Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Johnny Griffin & Martin Drew • Summerwind

Time and time again, the Manhattan Bop Police have claimed that a jazz album isn't legitimate unless it is recorded in the 212 area code. But if that's true, why did so many jazz heavyweights -- from Dexter Gordon to Bud Powell -- spend so much time living and recording in Europe? Why have so many important jazz indies (Steeplechase, Storyville, Owl, Black Lion, Timeless, among countless others) had European addresses? The fact is that if you're a serious jazz connoisseur, your CD collection is probably full of recordings that were made in Europe. Ray Brown certainly spent plenty of time performing overseas; Ludwigsburg, Germany, in fact, is where Brown recorded Summerwind, a 1980 session that finds the acoustic bassist forming a quartet with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin (one of the reasons jazz musicians are proud to be from Chicago), pianist Monty Alexander, and British drummer Martin Drew. This hard-swinging combination of American, Jamaican, and British improvisers enjoys a strong rapport on a diverse program that ranges from Ray Charles' "Hard Times" to pianist John Lewis' "Delaunay's Dilemma" to the title track (a song that is closely identified with Frank Sinatra). The inclusion of a song associated with Ol' Blue Eyes should come as no surprise to admirers of Alexander, who has never made a secret of his passion for Sinatra's legacy. Nor has Alexander made a secret of his love of R&B; one of the highlights of this CD is a piano trio performance of the Crusaders' "Street Life" (which Griffin is absent from). Although the Crusaders are primarily an instrumental jazz group, they enjoyed a major R&B hit in 1979 when they featured singer Randy Crawford on "Street Life"; on Summerwind, however, the tune works nicely as an acoustic bop/soul-jazz instrumental. This rewarding CD is well worth searching for.

 by Alex Henderson

https://www.allmusic.com/album/summerwind-mw0000701893

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Una y otra vez, la policía del Bop de Manhattan ha afirmado que un álbum de jazz no es legítimo a menos que esté grabado en el código de área 212. Pero si eso es cierto, ¿por qué tantos pesos pesados del jazz, desde Dexter Gordon hasta Bud Powell, pasaron tanto tiempo viviendo y grabando en Europa? ¿Por qué tantos importantes indies del jazz (Steeplechase, Storyville, Owl, Black Lion, Timeless, entre otros innumerables) han tenido direcciones europeas? El hecho es que si eres un serio conocedor del jazz, tu colección de CDs probablemente esté llena de grabaciones que fueron hechas en Europa. Ray Brown ciertamente pasó mucho tiempo actuando en el extranjero; Ludwigsburg, Alemania, de hecho, es donde Brown grabó Summerwind, una sesión de 1980 que encuentra al bajista acústico formando un cuarteto con el saxofonista tenor Johnny Griffin (una de las razones por las que los músicos de jazz están orgullosos de ser de Chicago), el pianista Monty Alexander y el baterista británico Martin Drew. Esta dura combinación de improvisadores estadounidenses, jamaicanos y británicos disfruta de una fuerte compenetración en un programa diverso que va desde "Hard Times" de Ray Charles a "Delaunay's Dilemma" del pianista John Lewis, pasando por la canción que da título al concierto (una canción que se identifica estrechamente con Frank Sinatra). La inclusión de una canción asociada con Ol' Blue Eyes no debería sorprender a los admiradores de Alexander, que nunca ha hecho un secreto de su pasión por el legado de Sinatra. Tampoco Alexander ha hecho un secreto de su amor por el R&B; uno de los aspectos más destacados de este CD es una interpretación en trío con piano de "Street Life" de los Cruzados (de la que Griffin está ausente). Aunque los Crusaders son principalmente un grupo de jazz instrumental, disfrutaron de un gran éxito de R&B en 1979 cuando presentaron al cantante Randy Crawford en "Street Life"; en "Summerwind", sin embargo, la melodía funciona muy bien como un bop/soul-jazz instrumental acústico. Vale la pena buscar este gratificante CD.

 por Alex Henderson

https://www.allmusic.com/album/summerwind-mw0000701893

Tracks:
Recorded in Ludwigsburg, Germany on 1980.
01. Blues For Groundhog (Ray Brown) - 7:03
02. Medley: Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills) / Rocks In My Bed (Duke Ellington) - 10:17
03. Put Your Little Foot Right Out (Larry Spier, arr.by Ray Brown) - 3:26
04. Consider (Monty Alexander) - 6:20
05. Swamp Fire (Hal Mooney) - 3:13
06. Summerwind (Bert Kaempfert) - 5:54
07. Griff And Me (Monty Alexander) - 2:34
08. Delaunay's Dilemma (John Lewis) - 4:27
09. Thanks For The Memory (Ralph Rainger) - 2:04
10. Hard Times (Ray Charles) - 3:11
11. Woogie Boogie (Monty Alexander) - 2:23
12. Street Life (Joe Sample) - 5:20
13. Put Your Little Foot Right Out (alternate take) (Larry Spier, arr.by Ray Brown) - 4:43
14. Consider (alternate take) (Monty Alexander) - 6:31
15. Street Life (alternate take) (Joe Sample) - 4:56


Credits:
- Ray Brown - double bass
- Monty Alexander - piano, vocals
- Johnny Griffin - saxophone
- Martin Drew - drums


Label: Kingston World ‎– KIN W 2006
Released: 1998
Genre: Jazz


Notes:
Recorded April 1980

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