Concentric Circles

Reviewed: 2018-05-28
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Hard to believe that, as Kenny Barron turns 75, his latest release is as muscular, fleet, and entertaining as any debut by any man two-thirds his age. Trust Barron's deeply-versed quintet to swing like a big band plus, and leap out at you with a jumping, bop personality. Always a passionate player and a writer with a tight, expansive flair, Barron is devoted to the expression of each player within the whole.
If You Like: Duke Ellington , Charles Mingus, Wynton Kelly
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ DPW (4:51) – drums start> uptempo swinging bop jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*2/ Concentric Circles (7:26) – piano starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> sax solo> bass solo> midtempo jam slows to fade
*3/ Blue Waters (5:39) – drums start> midtempo jam swings uptempo> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
*4/ A Short Journey (5:28) – piano starts > slow jam> piano solo> sax solo> trumpet splo> slow jam> fade
5/ Aquelele Frevo Axe (8:15) – piano starts slow> slow tempo jam with Latin vibe> piano solo> sax solo swings to midtempo jam> slow fade
*6/ Von Hangman (4:43) – drums start> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
7/ In The Dark (7:00) – bass starts> slow jam like a funeral dirge> piano solo> slow fade
*8/ Baile (5;16) – piano starts> midtempo jam swings uptempo> sax solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> piano solo> jam> crescendo end
**9/ L’s Bop (5:54) – drums start> uptempo bop jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*10/ I’m Just Sayin’ (6:51) – piano starts hesitantly> playful midtempo jam> sax solo> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
*11/ Reflections (4:44) – midtempo piano solo> quick stop