Artist.......: Richard Underhill
Album........: Tales from the Blue Lounge
Label........: Stubby Records
Genre........: Jazz
Catnr........: SRCD-777
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: May-01-2006
str.date.....: Nov-05-2002
quality......: VBR/44,1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: www.richardunderhill.com
track title time
01. Surfing 07:45
02. Mr. Fezziwig 05:43
03. Big 05:56
04. Blues for Suze 09:15
05. Blue Lounge 06:12
06. Old Guys 05:39
07. Dreamy Afternoon 05:31
08. Guru Ship 06:37
09. Pegasus 06:12
10. Chillin' 05:34
Runtime 64:24 min
Size 94,8 MB
Release Notes:
For those familiar with the jazz scene in Toronto
during the eighties and the next decade will
remember the impact the Shuffle Demons had. Richard
Underhill was the leader and founding member of the
band that flipped jazz over not only through the
initial impact of their colorful costumes, but also
with their outstanding musicianship. The Shuffle
Demons split in 1997 and Underhill went out on his
own and recorded his debut album in 2003, with a
wealth of Canadian talent. It is well worth
revisiting. Underhill uses several idioms in his
music. He does not miss out on the connect as he
gets deep down into the groove and comes up with
rhythms that sizzle. He drives the point home right
away as ôSurfingö gets off on a funky edge shifted
by George Koller on bass and Ted Warren on drums.
Underhill takes his alto into the curl and loop,
his lines taut yet delving to capture the nuance of
the melody. He breaks away to prod and probe
letting Bob Brough to bring his big sound on the
tenor and parlay a path that etches some deep
lines. A great balance, indeed! Underhill utilizes
an octet to give voice to ôBig.ö This is a big (!),
brawny production, the sound initially driven by
Dave Restivo on organ before Jake Langley illumines
the path on the guitar, countenanced by the horns
in particular Underhill as he burrows a red hot
trail. The title cut has a big band, 11 musicians
gathering for a rumba which glides into sensuality
on the horns. But Underhill is not content to rest
on one aspect. He shifts time and tempo to give the
song a broader scope, and in that a stronger
impact. ThereÆs more in the way of marvelous tunes
that make this a wonderfully diverse and appealing
album.s