Ray Comiskeyreviews three new releases
JAN LUNDGREN/THE GUSTAF SJÖKVIST CHAMBER CHOIR/ LARS DANIELSSON Magnum Mysterium ACT ****
Although there are improvised elements by Lundgren (piano/keys) and Danielsson (bass/cello), this is church choral music from the 16th and 17th centuries, arranged mostly by Lundgren. It's difficult to be sure what "arranging" means without more detailed knowledge of the context, but the results are beautiful. The choir, one of the best in Sweden, is remarkable for its accuracy, internal balance and sheer beauty of sound. Coming, as they do, from a jazz background, Lundgren and Danielsson fit into that sound without disturbing any of the choir's elements. They and the choir serve the music; particularly striking are Monteverdi's Se Nei Partir Da Voi, Byrd's O Magnum Mysterium and Pastores dicite, quidnam vidistis? by de Morales. Dedicated to the late Ingmar Bergman, it's one to savour. www.actmusic.com
GENE BERTONCINI Ambient***
Taste and high-calibre craftsmanship are the distinguishing features of this album by Bertoncini, a supremely accomplished acoustic guitarist who has taught at the famous Eastman School of Music for more than 40 years. His colleagues there contributed the string quartet arrangements for him and bassist David Finck; though one or two charts might be deemed somewhat fussy, Bertoncini's response to the setting is superb. The guitar improvisations on the Chopin/Jobim Prelude/How Insensitive, Invitation, East of the Sun and You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To are masterful, and there's a combination of Rodrigo and Chick Corea with the Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain that is beautifully managed by all concerned. But the most effective marriage of all from a jazz perspective is an Eleanor Rigby on which, at one stage, all four strings are improvising. www.AmbientRecords.com
FREDDIE HUBBARD/NEW JAZZ COMPOSERS OCTET On the Real Side Times Square Records ***
Having fought lip problems, Hubbard paces his playing more prudently these days. However, though health and age have brought fragility and he's not the player he was, he retains the spirit and know-how of the past. Here Hubbard solos on the more mellow flugelhorn, leaving the ensemble trumpet lead to David Weiss, who arranged four of his compositions for the octet. It's a quality band, precise if conventional, with a hard New York edge and extremely capable soloists. Hubbard is a good composer, well served by his arrangers, particularly trombonist Steve Davis's contrapuntal take on Up Jumped Spring and bassist Dwayne Burno's richly scored Skydive and Gibraltar. Craig Handy (flute/tenor) guests on three tracks, Russell Malone (guitar) on one, but perhaps the best soloists are Steve Davis, Jimmy Greene (tenor/soprano) and Xavier Davis (piano). www.musicconnection.org.uk
