Ivey-Divey

Byron, Don
Blue Note
Jazz | Oct 2004

Reviews

Ben
Reviewed 2004-10-14
Don Byron – Ivey-Divey

Clarinetist Byron is back with a throwback album commemorating the early solo Lester Young albums alongside the modal fusion of Miles Davis. The result is engaging, though things get a little pedestrian in some of the more modern parts. Byron has a sweet, fat clarinet tone, perfect for a nice Lester Young sound, and DeJohnette drives things along nicely. I’m not a big fan of Moran, and he seems to be holding back the old school tunes, though he holds his own on the Miles stuff.
The soloing here is excellent, but for some reason the album as a whole didn’t click for me (unlike the fantastic “Bug Music” album). But be sure not to miss their excellent arrangement of “In a Silent Way”.. worth the price of admission!

1. Subdued clarinet leads the swing
*2. Extremely laid-back swing
*3. Pretty, slow blues
*4. Swing builds nicely to powerful solos
5. Plaintive bluesy hymn
*6. Nice easygoing shuffle
7. Modern sounding modal swing
8. Fluttery clarinet leads to laid back solos
*9. Hard modern funky sound
10. Decent rendition of this chestnut with some nice solos
**11. Cool funky combo version of M Davis classic
*12. Swing devolves into chaos (a true alternate take. nice!)

Ben B 10/7/04

Recent airplay

I Want to Be Happy
I Want to Be Happy
Umami Jazz ProgramJan 06, 2005
I've Found a New Baby
Umami Jazz ProgramDec 16, 2004
In a Silent Way
Memory SelectDec 10, 2004
The Goon Drag
Leopold, Leopold

Charting

2004-10-18 — 2004-12-20 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Dec 19 1
Dec 12 3
Nov 28 4
Nov 14 1
Nov 7 3
Oct 31 3
Oct 24 2

Track listing

1. I Want to Be Happy
2. Somebody Loves Me
3. I Cover the Waterfront
4. I've Found a New Baby
5. Himm
6. The Goon Drag
7. Abie the Fishman
8. Lefty Teachers at Home
9. Leopold, Leopold
10. Freddie Freeloader
11. In a Silent Way
12. Somebody Loves Me (Alt.)