egroj world: Art Farmer • A Sleeping Bee

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Art Farmer • A Sleeping Bee

Review by Ken Dryden
This Sonet LP finds Art Farmer with an atypical supporting group that includes fellow veteran Red Mitchell on bass, Latin percussionist Sabú Martínez, and several Europeans, among them guitarist Jan Schaffer and pianist Goran Strandberg. The opener, an easygoing take of "It Might As Well Be Spring," finds Farmer finally opening up in the closing chorus. Farmer's rich-toned flugelhorn interacts beautifully with Mitchell's imaginative bassline in the swinging take of "Come Rain or Come Shine," while the brisk bossa nova "Green Witch" is one of the more challenging charts on the date, with Farmer switching to trumpet. "A Sleeping Bee" is often played at fast tempos, but the hip-swaying, relaxed arrangement better showcases lyrical solos by the leader and Mitchell. This excellent record is long overdue to be reissued on CD.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-sleeping-bee-mw0001012552

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Este LP de Sonet encuentra a Art Farmer con un atípico grupo de apoyo que incluye al veterano Red Mitchell al bajo, al percusionista latino Sabú Martínez y a varios europeos, entre ellos el guitarrista Jan Schaffer y el pianista Goran Strandberg. El primer tema, una versión desenfadada de "It Might As Well Be Spring", muestra a Farmer abriéndose por fin en el estribillo final. El rico fliscorno de Farmer interactúa maravillosamente con la imaginativa línea de bajo de Mitchell en la movida toma de "Come Rain or Come Shine", mientras que la enérgica bossa nova "Green Witch" es uno de los temas más desafiantes de la fecha, con Farmer cambiando a la trompeta. "A Sleeping Bee" se suele tocar a tempos rápidos, pero el arreglo relajado y con balanceo de caderas muestra mejor los solos líricos del líder y de Mitchell. Hace tiempo que debería haberse reeditado en CD este excelente disco.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-sleeping-bee-mw0001012552

Tracks:
1 - It Might As Well Be Spring 8:38
2 - Come Rain Or Come Shine 5:56
3 - Green Witch 5:58
4 - A Sleeping Bee 8:35
5 - A Bitty Ditty 4:35
6 - Smilin' Billy 10:01
- Bonus Tracks
7 - Art For Lunch 4:30
8 - It Might As Well Be Spring (Alternate Take) 8:52
9 - Smilin' Billy (Alternate Take) 10:00

Credits:
    Bass – Red Mitchell
    Coordinator [Project Coordination] – Margareta Lundström
    Cover [Original Front Cover] – Lorne De Wolfe
    Design [Reissue Design] – John The Fisherman
    Drums – Island Östlund*, Tony Inzalaco
    Engineer – Gert Palmcrantz
    Guitar – Jan Schaffer*
    Liner Notes [New Liner Notes] – Samuel Charters*
    Management [Project Director] – Göran Israelsson
    Percussion – Sabu Martinez
    Photography By [Original Cover] – Stig Forsberg
    Piano – Göran Strandberg
    Producer [Original Recordings] – Art Farmer
    Reissue Producer – Samuel Charters*
    Remastered By – Claes Persson
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
    Written-By – Art Farmer (tracks: 5, 7)

Originally released in 1974.
Recorded at Europa Film Studios, Stockholm, 1974.

Label:    Universal Music AB – 0602498148907
Series:    The Sonet Jazz Story
Country:    Europe
Released:    2004
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/es/release/1904084-Art-Farmer-A-Sleeping-Bee