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Reedman Adam Kolker has garnered three Grammy nominations for his work alongside
percussionist Ray Barretto. Now, as the leader on Sultanic Verses, he teams up again with
Barretto, whose churning rhythms aid and abet pianist Bruce Barth, bassist John Herbert, and
drummer Billy Hart.
Four tunes are "Verses," shuffled in with the Kolker originals and a couple of time-
polished classics: Monk's "Epistrophy" and the American Songbook gem, "All or
Nothing at All." The Verses are duets, featuring Kolker's sweet-toned soprano weaving
around Barretto's fluid grooves. "All or Nothing at All" showcases Kolker's airy yet still
substantial tenor tone, along with Barth's crisp and sublime keyboard accompaniment. On the Monk
tune Barth eschews Thelonious's angularity and sits in with a straight up precision, and
"Blues" has that relaxed, smooth-flowing after-hours feel.
"Remembrance," Kolker's dedication to his mother, closes the with a beautiful, delicate
melody on tenor that Barth accentuates with reverent light touch.
Visit www.satchmojazz.com.
~ Dan McClenaghan
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Track Listing: Sultan's Dream, Waves, Verse 1, Track 4, Verse 2, Epistrophy, Dolphin Dance, Verse 3, All or
Nothing at All, Blues, Verse 4, Remebrance
Personnel: Adam Kolker, tenor and soprano sax; Bruce Barth, piano; John Herbert, bass; Billy Hart, drums; Ray
Barretto, percussion
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