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Roberto Magris: Ready for Reed
ByThe opening musical statement is non-standard for sure featuring a percussive texture that has drummer Brian Steever and percussionist Pablo Sanhueza on pronounced roles but Magrison the Hammond B3 organand Reed, do indeed deliver their respective solos in a powerhouse beginning to the album. The pianist's own original "The Swagger," is aptly titled as this piece does bring out the best in the band as all perform with a measure of grace and swagger on one of the outstanding tunes of the disc. Bassist Dominique Sanders introduces Duke Ellington's standard "Love You Madly" with trombonist Kendall Moore weighing in on a perky solo right before Reed's own alto joust showing us that this old man still has a lot of grit to his playing.
The Rodgers and Hart classic "I Married an Angel," is one of the softer spots on the recording with the arrangement highlighting tender moments from the pianist himself as well as from tenor saxophonist Steve Lambert and the bassist. The title track is a bluesy burner for sure with the trombonist and both Reed and Lambert blowing away with some of the best solos of the recording, while Magris takes another turn on the B3 organ. The pianist is at his best on the Nicholas Brodszky piece "Be My Love" followed by co-leader Reed who delivers a delicate solo statement of his own, on one beautiful rendition of this time-honored standard.
One of Magris's favorite and most influential artists in his career, has always been the great Lee Morgan and it is his "Stopstart" that is chosen to end the program and does so in rousing fashion. It certainly seems clear that Sam Reed was ready to meet and play with Roberto Magris and that the pianist, in turn, was obviously Ready for Reed and, as documented on this superb outing, these two master musician sure know how to make some beautiful music together.
Track Listing
Jungle Strut; The Swagger; Love You Madly; Paris Blues Revisited; Quasimodo; I Married An Angel; Ready For Reed; Sweet Jenny Lou; Be My Love; Stopstart.
Personnel
Roberto Magris
pianoSam Reed
saxophoneKendall Moore
tromboneSteven Lambert
saxophoneBrian Steever
drumsPablo Sanhueza
congasAlbum information
Title: Sam Reed Meets Roberto Magris: Ready for Reed | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: J-Mood Records
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