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Michael Dease: Never More Here
ByThe foremost among those Parker-influenced players here is Johnson, the man who changed the role of jazz trombone, beginning with his stint with the Count Basie Band in the mid 1940s, and a period small combo bebop recordings with Savoy and Prestige Records in the late fortiesa period contemporary with Parker's finest work. Dease sounds as if he himself is influenced by Johnsonthe bold, smooth tone, the fluidity and suppleness of articulation. Indeed, Never No More could be considered a companion piece to Johnson's Heroes (Verve, 1996), with its similar instrumentationa quintet fronted by the trombone and a reedist, plus guests, and with pianist Renee Rosnes in the rhythm section. Rosnes was Johnson's late career pianist of choiceJohnson called her a geniusand she sat in the piano chair on Heroes.
The set opens with the Rosnes-penned "Mirror Image." The front line of Dease and alto saxophonist Steve Wilson ply their respective trades in front of Rosnes' sparkling counterpoint, on a tune that sounds like a prayer directed in the direction of Johnson. "A Harmonic Future," was written by Jimmy Heath. Heath came up in Parker's timeframe, the late 1940s, and was nicknamed "Little Bird." The tune swings here, with a cool, smooth groove.
Reedist Eddie Daniels wrote "Slow Dance." It is a gorgeous bossa nova featuring Wilson on flute; and "For Hofsa" comes from the songbook of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. Dease's bandand especially Dease himselfexplore every drop of tenderness and poignancy from this beautiful tribute that McClean wrote for his wife.
The Dease-penned "Blue Jay" is an up-tempo nod to Johnson, inspired by Parker's melodic flow. "Shortcake" and 'Lament" are Johnson compositionsboth sporting distinctive and memorable melodies, with Dease employing the latter to address Parker'sand John Coltrane'searly passings.
The much-covered "Milestones," from the John Lewis songbook, gets some pep with Dease's rendition, featuring an intricate, prickly piano turn by Rosnes, with Dease stepping into the spotlight with an adamant momentum, to wrap up the Charlie Parker tribute with the most Parker-esque tune on the set.
Track Listing
Mirror Image; A Harmonic Future; Slow Dance; For Hofsa; I Wish I Knew; Blue Jay; Shortcake; Frenzy; Lament; Milestones.
Personnel
Michael Dease
tromboneMichael Dease: trombone, tenor sax (2); Steve Wilson: woodwinds; Renee Rosnes: piano; Gerald Cannon: bass; Lewis Nash: drums; Rufus Reid: bass (6, 7, 9); Randy Brecker: trumpet (8); Jocelyn Gould: guitar (3, 4, 8); Luther Allison: piano (5); Marcus Howell: alto sax (5); Endea Owens: bass (5); Diego Rivera: tenor sax (5); Jason Tiemann: drums (5); David Gibson: arrangement (5).
Album information
Title: Never More Here | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records