Pat Bianchi • Something To Say, The Music Of Stevie Wonder

 

When considering pop artists whose music might readily lend itself to a jazz milieu, Stevie Wonder's name isn't one that springs readily to mind. Organist Pat Bianchi, however, felt that Wonder had Something to Say in a jazz context, so he set about canvassing Wonder's art and reimagining it in terms of an organ trio, accentuating the composer's singular gift for melody and harmony and replacing the lyrics with solos by organ, guitar and (in two instances) tenor saxophone.

To fully appreciate the scope of Bianchi's vision, one would of course have to be a fan of Wonder's music; otherwise, what emerges is a sequence of well-drawn but otherwise unexceptional songs performed by an impressive trio: Bianchi, guitarist Paul Bollenback and drummer Byron Landham—with tenor Wayne Escoffery making it a foursome on "Superstition" and "Something to Say." Considered on those terms, Something to Say has a great deal to say, much of it admirable and well worth enjoying.

Wonder wrote every song on the album save one—Bianchi's fast-paced "Just Callin,'" which is a variant of "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Bianchi took pains to assure that Wonder's melodies remained basically as written, which is true of tempos as well, adding improvisation as the jazz component. So fans of the author needn't "wonder" what's going down when the trio sets course on such staples as "Go Home," "Moon Blue," "If It's Magic" or any of the others including perhaps the most recognizable of Wonder's tunes (on this album), "Isn't She Lovely." Bianchi shows he has chops to spare on every one of them, as does Bollenback, while Landham provides sharp and perceptive rhythmic support and weighs in with a heated solo on "Just Callin.'" Escoffery's solos provide effective counterpoint without straying from the hard-bop premise, while Bianchi, whose voice is the most often heard, is always eloquent and in control.

There are two ways to appraise the album: as a tribute to the remarkable talents of Stevie Wonder, or as a series of handsome songs ably performed by a first-class organ-led trio. Either way, the listener wins. 

By Jack Bowers
December 25, 2021
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/something-to-say-the-music-of-stevie-wonder-pat-bianchi-savant-records

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Cuando pensamos en artistas pop cuya música podría prestarse fácilmente a un entorno de jazz, el nombre de Stevie Wonder no es uno de los que nos vienen a la mente. El organista Pat Bianchi, sin embargo, pensó que Wonder tenía algo que decir en un contexto de jazz, así que se puso a explorar el arte de Wonder y a reimaginarlo en términos de trío de órgano, acentuando el singular don del compositor para la melodía y la armonía y sustituyendo las letras por solos de órgano, guitarra y (en dos casos) saxofón tenor.

Para apreciar plenamente el alcance de la visión de Bianchi, uno tendría que ser, por supuesto, un fan de la música de Wonder; de lo contrario, lo que surge es una secuencia de canciones bien dibujadas, pero por lo demás poco excepcionales, interpretadas por un trío impresionante: Bianchi, el guitarrista Paul Bollenback y el batería Byron Landham, con el tenor Wayne Escoffery como cuarteto en "Superstition" y "Something to Say". Considerado en esos términos, Something to Say tiene mucho que decir, mucho de ello admirable y que merece la pena disfrutar.

Wonder escribió todas las canciones del álbum excepto una: "Just Callin'", de Bianchi, que es una variante de "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Bianchi se esmeró en asegurarse de que las melodías de Wonder se mantuvieran básicamente como estaban escritas, lo que se aplica también a los tempos, añadiendo la improvisación como componente jazzístico. Así que los fans del autor no tienen por qué "preguntarse" qué está pasando cuando el trío pone rumbo a temas tan básicos como "Go Home", "Moon Blue", "If It's Magic" o cualquiera de los otros, incluyendo quizás el más reconocible de los temas de Wonder (en este álbum), "Isn't She Lovely". Bianchi demuestra que tiene chuletas de sobra en cada una de ellas, al igual que Bollenback, mientras que Landham proporciona un apoyo rítmico agudo y perspicaz y pesa con un solo acalorado en "Just Callin'". Los solos de Escoffery proporcionan un contrapunto efectivo sin alejarse de la premisa del hard-bop, mientras que Bianchi, cuya voz es la que más se escucha, es siempre elocuente y tiene el control.

Hay dos maneras de valorar el álbum: como un homenaje al notable talento de Stevie Wonder, o como una serie de bellas canciones hábilmente interpretadas por un trío de primera clase dirigido por un órgano. En cualquier caso, el oyente sale ganando. 

Por Jack Bowers
December 25, 2021
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/something-to-say-the-music-of-stevie-wonder-pat-bianchi-savant-records

patbianchi.com ...

Tracks:
1 - Go Home
2 - Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
3 - Moon Blue
4 - Isn't She Lovely
5 - If It's Magic
6 - Something to Say
7 - Just Callin'
8 - Ribbon in the Sky


Credits:
Pat Bianchi: organ, Hammond B3;
Paul Bollenback: guitar;
Byron Landham: drums;
Wayne Escoffery: saxophone, tenor.

Released: 2021
Label: Savant Records

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