egroj world: Bill Barron • Modern Windows Suite

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Bill Barron • Modern Windows Suite

Review by Michael G. Nastos
It is well-known that tenor saxophonist Bill Barron was highly regarded by fellow musicians and his many students, and underappreciated by the general public. This recording displays all the why's and wherefore's as to his unsung greatness, showcasing his clever compositions and his clear, distinct, definite tenor tone that holds allegiance to no peer or predecessor. Trumpet partner Ted Curson and younger brother Kenny, a pianist, both play on the dates that were originally issued as Modern Windows and The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron.
The first four cuts comprise "The Modern Windows Suite" with baritone saxophonist Jay Cameron, bassist Eddie Khan, and drummer Pete LaRoca Sims helping. They seg into one another; "Men at Work" is a sweet and sour hard bopper a la Sun Ra with a slowed tempo and Eastern flavor, and merging into "Tone Colors," a swirling, bluesy, swinging line promoing many solos with a young Kenny Barron's chiming chords as the highlight. "Dedication to Wanda" is a slow, pensive ballad with the leader's solo comprising the bulk of the piece, and the straight, no-chaser-needed bopper "Keystone" is portrayed accurately as being Charles Mingus-like in its original unison, with galloping phrases and inventive writing. Bassist Jimmy Garrison really lights the fuse on the seven quintet recordings, where drummer Frankie Dunlop stokes the rhythmic fire. A ballad head and waltz bridge for "Ode to an Earth Girl" utilizes a suspended animation feel from Kenny Barron's piano and the rhythm section for tenor and trumpet solos. You really hear the empathy between the leader and Curson on this, and on "Fox Hunt," as Curson's muted trumpet calls participants to the chase at the outset, outro, and in the middle of a good swinging romp. "Oriental Impressions" uses an attractive modal, two-chord motif to easy swing and back device. "Backlash" is a straight up-and-down easy bopper with the tenor's tone and approach more agitated. "Nebulae," again in a Mingus mode, is a good unison-lined swinger with a march waltz insert, and the tenor that signifies Barron's originality as Curson's trumpet pulls the band along on a "Tea for Two" quote near the coda. This is a rich, fulfilling modern jazz window into the soul of one of the most underappreciated masters of the idiom, and is clearly Bill Barron's best work in his criminally miniscule discography.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-windows-suite-mw0000055319

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
Es bien sabido que el saxofonista tenor Bill Barron era muy apreciado por sus colegas músicos y sus muchos alumnos, y poco apreciado por el público en general. Esta grabación muestra todos los porqués de su grandeza, exhibiendo sus ingeniosas composiciones y su tono tenor claro, distinto y definido, que no tiene parangón ni predecesor. Su compañero trompetista Ted Curson y su hermano menor Kenny, pianista, tocan en los temas que se publicaron originalmente como Modern Windows y The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron.
Los cuatro primeros cortes componen "The Modern Windows Suite", con la colaboración del saxofonista barítono Jay Cameron, el bajista Eddie Khan y el batería Pete LaRoca Sims. Men at Work" es un hard bopper agridulce a lo Sun Ra, con un tempo más lento y sabor oriental, que se funde con "Tone Colors", una línea arremolinada, bluesera y oscilante que promueve muchos solos con los acordes de un joven Kenny Barron como punto culminante. "Dedication to Wanda" es una balada lenta y pensativa con el solo del líder comprendiendo la mayor parte de la pieza, y el bopper "Keystone" es retratado con precisión como Charles Mingus en su unísono original, con frases galopantes y escritura inventiva. El bajista Jimmy Garrison enciende realmente la mecha en las siete grabaciones del quinteto, donde el batería Frankie Dunlop aviva el fuego rítmico. La cabeza de balada y el puente de vals de "Ode to an Earth Girl" utilizan una sensación de animación suspendida del piano de Kenny Barron y la sección rítmica para los solos de tenor y trompeta. Realmente se oye la empatía entre el líder y Curson en este tema y en "Fox Hunt", ya que la trompeta silenciada de Curson llama a los participantes a la persecución al principio, al final y en medio de un buen revolcón. "Oriental Impressions" utiliza un atractivo motivo modal de dos acordes para un swing fácil y un dispositivo de vuelta. Backlash" es un "easy bopper" directo con el tono del tenor y un enfoque más agitado. "Nebulae", de nuevo en modo Mingus, es un buen swing al unísono con una inserción de vals de marcha, y el tenor que significa la originalidad de Barron mientras la trompeta de Curson arrastra a la banda en una cita de "Tea for Two" cerca de la coda. Esta es una rica y satisfactoria ventana del jazz moderno al alma de uno de los maestros más infravalorados del lenguaje, y es claramente el mejor trabajo de Bill Barron en su criminalmente minúscula discografía.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-windows-suite-mw0000055319

Tracks:
Modern Windows Suite
1 - Men At Work - 6:43
2 - Tone Colors - 7:40
3 - Dedication To Wanda - 4:09
4 - Keystone - 6:22
5 - Blast Off - 9:35
6 - Ode To An Earth Girl - 7:30
7 - Fox Hunt - 7:05
8 - Oriental Impressions - 6:21
9 - Back Lash - 5:44
10 - Nebulae - 6:16
11 - Desolation - 5:21

Credits:

    Baritone Saxophone – Jay Cameron (tracks: 1 to 4)
    Bass – Eddie Khan (tracks: 1 to 4), Jimmy Garrison (tracks: 5 to 11)
    Drums – Frankie Dunlop (tracks: 5 to 11), Pete La Roca (tracks: 1 to 4)
    Engineer [Recording] – Paul Cady
    Engineer [Reissue], Mastered By – Paul Reid III
    Graphic Design – Amy Bennick
    Liner Notes – A.B. Spellman*, Orrin Keepnews, Toyin Spellman
    Photography By – Chuck Stewart, Lee Tanner
    Piano – Kenny Barron
    Producer [Original Sessions] – Tom Wilson (2)
    Reissue Producer – Orrin Keepnews
    Tenor Saxophone, Composed By – Bill Barron
    Trumpet – Ted Curson

Tracks 1 to 4 Recorded on June 5, 1961 at Medallion Studios, Newark, NJ
Tracks 5 to 11 Recorded on February 21, 1961 at Medallion Studios, Newark, NJ

Tracks 1 to 4 Originally issued as Side A of "Modern Windows" Savoy MG 12163
Tracks 5 to 10 Originally issued as "The Tenor Stylings Of Bill Barron" Savoy MG 12160
Track 11 Originally issued on "Nebulae" Savoy Jazz SJL 1184

Label:    Savoy Jazz – 92878-2, Atlantic – 92878-2
Series:    Savoy Jazz Originals
Country:    US
Released:    2000
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Hard Bop, Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/es/release/2938274-Bill-Barron-Modern-Windows-Suite