HARVIE S – “Texas Rumba”
Zoho, 2004

Decent Latin-bop set, recorded live at Sweet Rhythm in New York. It’s a small club, and that translates pretty well, giving the sextet that extra oomph that only comes from live performance. Musically, this is solidly in the mainstream, but Harvie and pianist David Kelly set down some good, sophisticated grooves. The themes tend to be simple, almost trite, but lively solos generally make up for it. Not all great, but some tracks work well.

[note: "Harvie S" = Harvie Swartz]

Fo’s picks: 1, 2, 7, 10 (maybe 4)

1. 3:43 – fast, celebratory: cutesy theme gives way to hot piano solo
2. 6:30 – quietly propulsive, builds as it goes: solos for bass, soprano sax, piano, conga
3. 6:17 – mellow ballad, bowed bass lead; thoughtful, but probably too smooth for kzsu
4. 7:05 – relaxed bluesy theme, smoky tenor sax lead and penthouse piano
5. 7:29 – perky midtempo theme, clave rhythm; lengthy bass & piano solos
6. 2:16 – delicate, pensive piano solo, reminds me of Ryuichi Sakamoto somehow
7. 5:37 – intelligent, pretty ballad, just piano/bass, sneaks up and sweeps gently along
8. 5:46 – relaxed latin piano groove, builds up to a strong midsection, but loses steam
9. 2:07 – nice solo bass version of a Thelonious Monk standard
10. 10:41 – chill postbop ballad; late-set jazz club feel. Long solos for trumpet, tenor sax

[Fo] - 05/14/2004