88

POST-BOP JAZZ COMBO

Here’s a tribute to the jazz piano, provided by guitar & cello. A pizzicato cello (sounding much like a piccolo bass) serves as a second melodic instrument and trades solos with the hollow-body guitar of the group’s leader. Rhythm section is upright bass and drums. Save for one original (track 5), all the tracks are composed by notable jazz pianists, mostly from the 50s-60s hard bop & soul jazz traditions (but last few may be considered classic bebop).

No FCC issues.

1 * Slow, quiet intro on guitar, then fast & lively. Long solos by guitar, then cello. (7:12)
2 Mid-tempo. Cool & slinky. Long leads by guitar, then cello. Finish together. (7:56)
3 ** Slow intro: guitar arpeggios, bass improv, cymbal rolls. Very fast main section led mainly by guitar. (There’s a fun sample of Gershwin’s “Summertime” in here.) Cello answers for a few mins. A false end is followed by a coda much like the intro. (9:21)
4 Slow ballad. Guitar, cello, guitar leads. Drums a bit too heavy. Tempo too sleepy. (8:21)
5 ** Mid-fast. Bright tone; bouncy, fun melody. Cello as lead voice works well here. The bass and drums are especially good on this one as well. (6:02)
6 Very fast. Technical showcase with lots of scale runs. Guitar, cello, guitar. (4:38)
7 * Mid-tempo. Laid back & easy. Guitar (long), cello, guitar again. (8:28)
8 Very slow. Very, very mellow and introspective. Drags on too long. (6:56)
9 * Mid-fast. Good toe tapping, head bouncing classic jazz sound. (5:44)