Stanley Cowell • Prayer For Peace

 

Pianist Stanley Cowell hasn’t made an album in over a decade, but his teaching activities at Rutgers University have kept his skills as a soloist and bandleader sharp. When he takes off on Benny Carter’s chestnut “When Lights Are Low,” his phrasing, chordal voicings and use of space are impeccable. Bassist Mike Richmond (also a strong soloist here) and drummer Victor Lewis drive him at every step, proving that a hard-swinging trio never goes out of fashion.

Cowell’s 20-year-old daughter Sunny sits in with dad’s band for most of this session, alternately playing viola and singing. The younger Cowell inherited some of her father’s intuitive sense on her instrument. She adds exotic textures to the “Asian Art Suite,” which Stanley composed after seeing an exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On the suite’s “Blues for Rama,” Sunny’s playing is promising if a bit too tentative. (The suite and “Chirality” best showcase Stanley Cowell’s depth as a composer.)

Sunny’s vocal tracks don’t fare as well. No doubt she possesses a strong set of pipes and bends with ease on the tricky “Today, What a Beautiful Day.” But the liner notes call her voice “light as a marshmallow,” which is part of the problem. A voice needs a little more depth to pull off lyrics like, “You’re so blind/You’re so cold/You’re so jive,” in an otherwise powerful song about anti-apartheid leaders (“Stealing Gold”). She fares better on her original “Time Can Only Tell,” which betrays her youth in its wistful lyrics.
Originally Published June 16, 2011
https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/stanley-cowell-prayer-for-peace/

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El pianista Stanley Cowell no ha grabado un álbum en más de una década, pero sus actividades docentes en la Universidad de Rutgers le han mantenido en forma como solista y director de banda. Al despegar con el clásico "When Lights Are Low" de Benny Carter, su fraseo, sus acordes y el uso del espacio son impecables. El bajista Mike Richmond (también un solista destacado) y el baterista Victor Lewis lo impulsan a cada paso, demostrando que un trío con ritmo potente nunca pasa de moda.

Sunny, la hija de 20 años de Cowell, acompaña a la banda de su padre durante la mayor parte de la sesión, alternando entre tocar la viola y cantar. La joven Cowell heredó parte de la intuición de su padre para el instrumento. Añade texturas exóticas a la "Suite de Arte Asiático", que Stanley compuso tras ver una exposición en el Museo de Arte de Filadelfia. En "Blues for Rama" de la suite, la interpretación de Sunny es prometedora, aunque un poco indecisa. (La suite y "Chirality" son las que mejor muestran la profundidad de Stanley Cowell como compositor).

Las pistas vocales de Sunny no destacan tanto. Sin duda, posee una voz potente y se mueve con soltura en la compleja "Today, What a Beautiful Day". Pero las notas del álbum describen su voz como "ligera como un malvavisco", lo cual es parte del problema. Una voz necesita un poco más de profundidad para interpretar letras como "Eres tan ciego/Eres tan frío/Eres tan jive", en una canción por lo demás poderosa sobre líderes antiapartheid ("Stealing Gold"). Su voz original, "Time Can Only Tell", delata su juventud en su melancólica letra.
Publicado originalmente el 16 de junio de 2011
https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/stanley-cowell-prayer-for-peace/

Tracks:
1 - When Lights Are Low     6:45
2 - Blues For Rama     6:02
3 - Time Can Only Tell     5:16
4 - Japanese Tea House     4:12
5 - Today, What A Beautiful Day     6:44
6 - I'll Never Be The Same     4:47
7 - For James Williams     5:00
8 - Stealing Gold     8:05
9 - Chirality     4:22
10 - Prayer For Peace     7:12


Credits:
    Bass – Mike Richmond
    Drums – Victor Lewis
    Piano – Stanley Cowell
    Viola – Sunny Cowell

Label:    SteepleChase – SCCD 31704
Released:    2010
Genre:    Jazz

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