From the very first bar, this disc swings. Saxophonist
Joe Lovano brought everything but the proverbial kitchen
sink to this live performance at the Village Vanguard. The
horn-laden disc is resplendent with an energy level that
must have left the band exhausted at the conclusion of the
set. The breakneck speed of the opener, “At The
Vanguard,” is reminiscent of a jam session of the
utmost intensity. “Focus” has a relaxed pace, mellow and smooth,
but still swings. Lovano stretches out, albeit smoothly,
while bassist Dennis Irwin and Lewis Nash, one of the tightest drummers
out there, provide the melody that Lovano plays around.
As if conjuring up the spirit of John Coltrane, “After
The Rain” begins with a short, thought-provoking solo by
Lovano and a few thunderous bombs by Nash before the
band joins in to create a powerful melody. They
stop on a dime during several bars to remind the audience
the sheer power of how a horn section can create an epic
in a mere seven-plus minutes. This piece commands attention
because it remains so reminiscent of 'Trane's cerebral
command of his instrument, something shared by Lovano.
Throughout the track, Nash drops massive hits
on the skins that are simply breathtaking and timely.
The most romantic cut on the disc, “Laura,” begins
with Lovano crying out on saxophone while Hicks employs
the piano keys to share in the dialogue. Ries interjects with
a soulful trumpet interlude accompanied by the
horn section in a manner that suggests classic Charlie Parker.
In true Lovano form, the disc picks up the pace again
with “On This Day,” which begins with a Nash drum solo.
The solo essentially has the audience in a quandary
because it isn't clear which direction the song will take,
fast or slow. However, the horn section moves in to play
around Nash's beats to create an abstract flow. After the
band's blasting meandering, Hicks accents his piano to
provide some direction. Over the course of fifteen minutes,
every band member has the opportunity to stretch out.
On This Day… At The Vanguard was undoubtedly one whale of an evening for the audience
and the band.
The crowd assuredly experienced a range of
emotions from frenetic-paced songs such as “At The
Vanguard” and “Good Bait” to soulful, airy ballads such
as “After The Rain” and “My Little Brown Book.” And the members of the
band were undoubtedly exhausted at the conclusion
of the set, having demonstrated their ability to play at
sprint-like speeds, yet also being able to catch their breath
now and then on the ballads. It goes without saying that on
this day, this band was smokin'.
Blue Note on the web:
www.bluenote.com.
This review first appeared in All About Jazz:Los Angeles
~ Eddie Becton
