Lyle Ritz • How About Uke

 

Review by Thom Jurek
Admittedly, a jazz ukulele album sounds like a novelty at best and at worst like some kind of mutant perversity -- until one hears Lyle Ritz play the uke, that is. At two different sessions in September of 1957, Ritz, a jazz bassist, went into a Verve studio with bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Gene Estes, and flutist Don Shelton, and laid down 13 sides -- 11 of them canonical jazz and standard tunes that are simply breathtaking for their swing as much as their gentility. Shelton, who appears on half the sides, lays out a sharp line on Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" that is answered in counterpoint by Ritz in both chordal and single-string runs. The complex chord voicings on Rodgers & Hart's "Have You Met Miss Jones" offer such color and texture that one can forget that this was written specifically for piano. And Ritz's solos touch on guitarists from Django Reinhardt to Tiny Grimes to Wes Montgomery. Other standouts are Ritz's two originals, "Ritz Cracker," a bop tune, and "Sweet Joan." The versions of "Moonlight in Vermont," "Little Girl Blue," and "I'm Beginning to See the Light" are all revelatory for their wonderfully realized harmonic palette. This is a gorgeous record, one that bears not only encountering, but repeated listening.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-about-uke-mw0000336508

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Reseña de Thom Jurek
Hay que admitir que un álbum de jazz con ukelele suena como una novedad en el mejor de los casos y en el peor como una especie de perversidad mutante - hasta que uno escucha a Lyle Ritz tocar el uke, es decir. En dos sesiones diferentes en septiembre de 1957, Ritz, un bajista de jazz, se metió en un estudio de Verve con el bajista Red Mitchell, el baterista Gene Estes y el flautista Don Shelton, y grabó 13 lados - 11 de ellos temas canónicos de jazz y estándar que son simplemente impresionantes por su swing tanto como por su gentileza. Shelton, que aparece en la mitad de las caras, establece una línea afilada en "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" de Duke Ellington que es respondida en contrapunto por Ritz tanto en los acordes como en las carreras de una sola cuerda. Los complejos voicings de acordes en "Have You Met Miss Jones" de Rodgers & Hart ofrecen tal color y textura que uno puede olvidar que fue escrita específicamente para piano. Y los solos de Ritz recuerdan a guitarristas como Django Reinhardt, Tiny Grimes o Wes Montgomery. Otros temas destacados son los dos originales de Ritz, "Ritz Cracker", un tema bop, y "Sweet Joan". Las versiones de "Moonlight in Vermont", "Little Girl Blue" y "I'm Beginning to See the Light" son reveladoras por su maravillosa paleta armónica. Se trata de un disco magnífico, que no sólo merece ser escuchado, sino también repetido.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-about-uke-mw0000336508

Tracklist
1 - Don't Get Around Much Any More - 3:15
2 - Have You Met Miss Jones? - 3:02
3 - Little Girl Blue - 2:51
4 - Solamente Una Vez (You Belong To My Heart) - 2:50
5 - Moonlight In Vermont - 3:44
6 - Ritz Cracker - 2:12
7 - Lulu's Back In Town - 3:23
8 - Playmates - 2:32
9 - I'm Beginning To See The Light - 2:53
10 - How About You? - 2:49
11 - Sunday - 2:08
12 - Tangerine - 3:23
13 - Sweet Joan - 2:29


Credits:
    Bass – Red Mitchell
    Drums – Gene Estes
    Engineer – Alan Emig
    Flute – Don Shelton (2) (tracks: 1, 4 to 7)
    Ukulele – Lyle Ritz

Notes
Recorded on 18 & 28 September and 1 October 1957 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood


Label: Verve Records ‎– 0044007609422, Verve Records ‎– MG VS-6007
Series: LP Reproduction –
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/Lyle-Ritz-How-About-Uke/release/5247367

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