Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Friesen and Jeff Gardner: Grace

187

David Friesen and Jeff Gardner: Grace

By

Sign in to view read count
David Friesen and Jeff Gardner: Grace

Duet...

Small places, big faces...The smaller and more intimate the jazz combo becomes, the greater the musical distillation and exposure to the elements of the listener. It is always a high-wire act when jazz musicians reduce to a trio or less. The trio offers the bare minimum of a rhythm section of bass and drums and a lead instrument like a piano, guitar, or a reed. The duo typically reduces this further, like a fine sauce or rue, often to the piano and brass or reed or the exquisite bass and piano. The latter case is what we have on Grace. New York pianist Jeff Gardner joins forces with bassmeister David Friesen playing his novel Hermage Bass. Friesen ends up the true star here as he has received a good deal of press recently.

This is a beautiful and glistening recording. Pianist Gardner, who infuses them with a shimmering personality that cascades from the speakers, composed the lion's share of pieces on the recording. He and Friesen share an empathy and telepathy that recalls Blanton/Ellington, Gomez/Evans, and Pedersen/Peterson. Both musicians make excellent use of the close, intimate quarters provided by the jazz duet. By its very nature the music produced is thoughtful and reflective, amply demonstrating both men's considerable talent. When listening for the first time, I recommend that the listener play the final cut, "My Funny Valentine." It will adequately whet your interest and prepare you for the rest of this fine recording.

Track Listing

Esquecendo; Blues For Hawk; Grace; All The Things You Are; Change Of Heart; Preludio Para Rita; Achados E Perdidos; Dad's Dream; Mr. Vertigo; My Funny Valentine. (Total Time: 73:53).

Personnel

David Friesen-- bass; Jeff Gardner-- piano

Album information

Title: Grace | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Khaeon World Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.