Release : Joey Calderazzo - Amanecer
Artist : Joey Calderazzo
Album : Amanecer
Genre : Jazz
Source : CDDA
Label : Marsalis Music
URL : http://www.marsalismusic.com
Date : 04-03-2007
Encoder : LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
Quality : 180kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 9
Time : 57:48 min
Size : 74.73 MB
1 Midnight Voyage 6:26
2 Sea Glass 8:16
3 Toonay 5:43
4 Amanecer 6:34
5 The Lonely Swan 5:51
6 I've Never Been In Love Before 5:53
7 So Many Moons 6:21
8 Waltz For Debby 6:13
9 Lara 6:31
Amazing but true moments in professional sports: a PGA tour player, when
interviewed, makes reference to his focus on "becoming a better player." This,
of course, occurs shortly after a display of skills the likes of which weekend
golfers have no hope of attaining. I've heard similar assertions made by high
caliber musicians ù that every once in a while they have a night that meets
their expectations. Right...and that crazy exercise in chord change sculpting
you normally put on is just tripe?
Look, I do understand these sentiments. After all, golf is a game that's as much
mental and physical so there are many ways to improve. The same can be said for
music-making. It's just that the goals set by the career musician are so far
above the 'normal' person's realm that it's tough to empathize or to hear the
"progress" that's being made.
The opening track of Joey Calderazzo's Amanecer has, for once, given the
listener some insight into where the pianist is headed. "Midnight Voyager,"
which first appeared on Michael Brecker's Tales From The Hudson, is a complete
reworking of the original. By "complete" I mean that I did not recognize the
tune until nearing the end. Repeat listens revealed that Calderazzo has both
deconstructed and expanded the piece. Quite amazing.
Amanecer finds Calderazzo stepping away from his Branford Marsalis sideman role
to explore the possibilities of the piano as a solo instrument as well as
harmonic collaborator in duo (with vocalist Claudia Acuna and guitarist Romano
Lubambo) and trio (Acuna and Lubambo) formats. While the solo work allows for
extended examination of harmonic ideas, the group situations let Calderazzo
focus on songs: "Playing with Claudia and Romano really underscores my love of
songs, and reminds me that The Beatles, who I grew up listening to, have has as
much if not more of an impact on my music than John Coltrane."
This love of song is indeed evident on the title track, played by the full trio.
Acuna's searching vocals paint out that lovely melody as the piano and guitar
(lightly!) provide structure. To hear more of Acuna's sweet voice, check out the
duet "So Many Moons," which somehow brings to mind Pat Metheny's "Last Train
Home." Calderazzo also explores the bossa song form on "The Lonely Swan," a duet
with Lubamba.
The solo piano pieces on Amanecer range in style from the pensive (a very open
take on Michael Brecker's "Sea Glass") to the Monk-ish ("I've Never Been In Love
Before") to downright gorgeous ù a version of my favorite Bill Evans tune "Waltz
For Debby." I especially like "Toonay," where it seems that the ideas are
driving Calderazzo's right hand to extremes in angularity. Great stuff. It's
easy to see why Branford has this man in his group.
With Amanecer, Joey Calderazzo has now set his musical bar very high. It'll be
interesting to see how his future work responds...and to see how his role in
future Branford Marsalis projects changes. Yes, I'm sure that at some point
they'll "get it right."