Isn't there a saying that goes something like "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach"? Stupid
saying, as the Abby and Norm Group's Melodic Miner's Daughter proves.
Abby Aronson Zocher and Norman Zocher, husband and wife team, guitar and bass
impresarios, teach at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. Melodic Miner's Daughter is
their second outing on CD, showcasing the wide range of their musical talents. The CD opens with
the four part "Canadian Suite," dedicated to the couple's second home, Prince Edward
Island in Canada. As a whole, it evokes idyllic times on long summer days, a dreamy and
seamlessly produced sequence with husband and wife swapping bass and guitar chores, plus
some nice soprano sax work by George Garzone, one of Abby and Norm's fellow educators and one
of the finest sax men on the New England jazz scene.
And when they've lulled you into into a sense of serenity with the very pretty 20 minute-plus
suite, they start to get a bit gritty with Abby's groove oriented "Freestyle."
The much done classic "My Funny Valentine" is next, and on paper (or computer
screen) it might seem out of place here, but for such a fine bass player, Abby is also an awfully fine
singer. The group gives the song an extended workout, with Abby doing some scatting along with
her bass lines near the end.
Then things go from pretty to gritty with the title tune and the Norm-penned "Miles,"
giving sax man Garzone some room to Blow, with a capital 'B', with the group as a whole--especially
the rhythm section--sounding very much in the mid-sixties Miles mode. Then we're back to musical
loveliness with "Caramel," featuring Abby's lilting vocals. "A Fox in the Woods
," a Garzone tune, closes the set out, Abby scatting along with the sax lines. Soaringly lovely.
A hard set to get a handle on, with such a range of styles and moods involved. But it's all done
exquisitely, requiring a few listens to take it all in and proving that those who teach most
definitely can, awfully well in this case.
visit: www.abbyandnorm.com
~ Dan McClenaghan
