Ari Hoenig Dominick Farinacci Reuben Wilson Cindy Blackman Santana

36 Pages·2016·8.65 MB·English

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The only jazz magazine in NY in print, online and on apps!
August 2016 www.hothousejazz.com
Jazz Standard Page 17 Smoke Page 21
Cindy Blackman Santana Reuben Wilson
Dominick Farinacci Ari Hoenig
The Falcon Page 10 Smalls Page 10
Where To Go & Who To See Since 1982
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WINNING SPINS
By George Kanzler
IN THIS AGE OF THE MP3AND THE and Gil Evans inspires a lush version of
downloaded song, the album often sur- Tom Waits' "Soldier's Things," trumpet
vives as little more than a compilation of caressed by the strings and woodwinds.
tracks, neatly packaged for consumers as a Another outstanding ballad track is the
marketing strategy. However, some musi- standard "Black Coffee," featuring
cians still have more ambitious reasons for Dominick's one foray into plunger and
creating records. Case in point: the two muted trumpet. Two songs are appropriat-
offerings comprising this Winning Spins. ed from the pop charts: Cream's early rock
Both CDs connect music to narrative, hit, "Sunshine of Your Love," riding on the
creating pieces that tell or suggest a story original bass riff jazzily swung; and the
apart from the music. For his release, Ari 2013 Grammy Record of the Year,
Hoenig contructs a long narrative arc and "Somebody That I Used to Know," given an
uses the tunes to reveal a connected story. electronic treatment and Beach Boys-like
On the other hand, Dominick Farinacci vocal harmonies by Jacob. Larry con-
chooses songs that tell or suggest individ- tributes the sly, tongue-in-cheek finale,
ual tales, gathered together but independ- "Parlour Song."
ent of each other. The Pauper & The Magician, Ari
Short Stories, Dominick Farinacci Hoenig (Lyte Records), finds the drum-
(Mack Avenue), finds the 30-something mer's quintet creating a soundtrack for a
trumpeter fashioning often sophisticated, fantastical tale he wove for his children's
elaborate versions of tunes culled from the bedtime story about a magician who takes
worlds of pop, folk and jazz into distinctive, over the life of a pauper, making him "a
highly suggestive narrative arcs. The pro- stooge for the magician's cruelest tricks."
ducer is famed pop music auteur Tommy While there are some memorable solos
LiPuma who, like the trumpeter, is a along the way from tenor saxophonist
native of Cleveland. The production is Tivon Pennicott, guitarist Gilad
sleek and lush, recalling the pristine Hekselman and pianist Shai Maestro, the
sounds and urbane tastes of mid-20th music is ensemble-oriented, achieving
Century albums from the labels of Creed much of its impact and drive from collec-
Taylor, whose CTI brand signaled jazz tive and polyphonal strategies.
sophistication. The titular opening track builds tension
The rhythm section features not only over a martial tattoo from Ari as the others
pianist Larry Goldings, often doubling on climb chordal ladders to build volume and
organ, bassist Christian McBride and dynamic tension, solo passages flowing in
drummer Steve Gadd, but often adds leg- and out of the overall progressions. A
endary session guitarist Dean Parks and tempo that races and retards powers "I'll
percussionist Jamey Haddad, with Gil Think About It," a kaleidoscopic piece
Goldstein playing accordion on four of the enticing with constantly shifting, overlap-
ten tracks. Six tunes also add a string and ping solos.
woodwind sextet, while two others feature Like Dominick, Ari explores near-East
vocals and electronic instruments from scales and exotic blues riffs on "The
Jacob Collier. Other," with engaging piano and tenor sax
A New Orleans R&B vibe infuses the solos moving toward an Arab-bebop fusion.
opener, the Gypsy Kings' "Bamboleo," The contrasting tension of double-timing
Dominick paying tribute to his Louis drums and tenor sax in ballad mode makes
Armstrong roots, especially in the stop- "Lyric" impressive. Tivon is at his most
time breaks, surrounded by churning emotively yearning on the straight ballad
rhythm and full ensemble sections and "Alana," the actual lyric highlight of the
echoed by Mark Mauldin's trombone (in its album. "You Are My Sunshine" closes the
only appearance). Percussive shakes and narrative on a jaunty note, the leader voic-
rattles add to the south of the border flavor ing the melody with mallets on drum
of Horace Silver's "Senor Blues," with skins, then trading licks with tenor sax.
multi-vocals from Jacob Collier, and the
leader's "Afternoon in Puebla" as well as Dominick Farinacci plays at The
Dianne Reeves' "Tango." Arabic scales and Side Door in Old Lyme on Aug. 6 and
the muezzin-like vocals of Lebanese singer The Falcon in Marlboro on Aug. 7. Ari
Mike Massy highlight Dominick's "Doha Hoenig's Trio is at Smalls Aug. 8 and
Blues," inspired by his time in Qatar. 15 and he is in Kenny Werner's trio at
The most lyrical period of Miles Davis Dizzy's Club Coca-ColaAug. 9-10.
10 Blackman cover photo by Chad Tasky.