Review
by Dave Nathan
Employing
the rather unusual configuration of cello and bass combined with his
piano for Waterboy, one of three albums Don Shirley recorded for
Columbia Records during the 1960s. This trio setup is consistent with
Shirley's training as a classical pianist as well as his compositional
record with that genre of music. Shirley is the composer of three
symphonies, two piano concerti, and three string quartets, among other
pieces. He holds a Ph.D. in music (and one in psychology). In sum, his
playing can be characterized as a cross between Art Tatum and Artur
Rubenstein.
Shirley's playing on this album reveals his wide
breadth of interpretative interests and skills. In fact, the
performances are so wide ranging, one wonders which track is the real
Don Shirley. On the title tune, Avery Robinson's arrangement of the old
prison tune "Waterboy" the trio expresses the flavor of the thud of the
mallet on the rocks that prisoners are compelled to split. In contrast,
Shirley becomes appropriately introspective and ruminating on "By
Myself." On his own "Adieux Madraz," Shirley recalls his West Indian
heritage. With his impressive and wide ranging educational background,
his linguistic abilities (he supposedly speaks eight languages), and his
interest in a wide variety of music, Shirley is a man for all seasons,
including a piano virtuoso. But sometimes the virtuosity overwhelms the
music and is more than some songs can tolerate. Some tunes are simple
and their musical message can be lost when their playing is overly
embellished as on "The Man I Love." The playing is dazzling to the point
of inundating the essence of this Gershwin piece. After a self-enforced
sabbatical, Shirley is actively performing again. Reacting to the
renewed interest in his work, the Golden Classics label is reissuing
many of the LPs he made for Cadence during the 1950s.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/water-boy-mw0001043684
///////
Reseña
por Dave Nathan
Empleando
la configuración bastante inusual de violonchelo y bajo combinados con
su piano para Waterboy, uno de los tres álbumes que Don Shirley grabó
para Columbia Records durante la década de 1960. Esta configuración de
trío es coherente con la formación de Shirley como pianista clásico, así
como con su historial compositivo con ese género musical. Shirley es
compositor de tres sinfonías, dos conciertos para piano y tres cuartetos
de cuerda, entre otras piezas. Posee un doctorado en música (y otro en
psicología). En resumen, su forma de tocar puede caracterizarse como un
cruce entre Art Tatum y Artur Rubenstein.
La interpretación de
Shirley en este álbum revela su gran amplitud de intereses y habilidades
interpretativas. De hecho, las interpretaciones son tan variadas que
uno se pregunta cuál es el verdadero Don Shirley. En el tema que da
título al disco, un arreglo de Avery Robinson de la vieja melodía
carcelaria "Waterboy", el trío expresa el sabor del golpe del mazo
contra las rocas que los presos se ven obligados a partir. En contraste,
Shirley se vuelve apropiadamente introspectivo y rumiante en "By
Myself". En su propia "Adieux Madraz", Shirley recuerda su herencia
antillana. Con su impresionante y amplia formación académica, sus
habilidades lingüísticas (supuestamente habla ocho idiomas) y su interés
por una gran variedad de músicas, Shirley es un hombre para todas las
estaciones, incluso un virtuoso del piano. Pero a veces el virtuosismo
abruma a la música y es más de lo que algunas canciones pueden tolerar.
Algunas melodías son sencillas y su mensaje musical puede perderse
cuando su interpretación se adorna en exceso, como en "The Man I Love".
La interpretación es deslumbrante hasta el punto de inundar la esencia
de esta pieza de Gershwin. Tras un año sabático forzado por ella misma,
Shirley vuelve a actuar activamente. En respuesta al renovado interés
por su trabajo, el sello Golden Classics está reeditando muchos de los
LPs que hizo para Cadence durante la década de 1950.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/water-boy-mw0001043684
Tracks:
A1 - Waterboy
A2 - Where's My Bess
A3 - In A Morrish Marketplace
A4 - The Man I Love
A5 - This Nearly Was Mine
B1 - Blue Skies
B2 - Adieu Madraz
B3 - Tribute To Billie Holiday
B4 - By Myself
B5 - Freedom
B6 - When Your Lover Has Gone
Credits:
Bass – Ken Fricker
Cello – Juri Taht
Lacquer Cut By – C. RIE
Liner Notes – Archie Bleyer
Piano – Don Shirley
Label: Cadence (2) – CLP-25046
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1960
Genre: Jazz
Style: Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/2873804-Don-Shirley-Trio-Don-Shirley-Trio
This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader
No comments:
Post a Comment