Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mike Melito: New York Connections
Mike Melito: New York Connections
ByA good place to start is the alliance of Melito and bassist Neal Miner. Generally speaking, they swing in a manner that, unfortunately, is rapidly becoming passé; that is, offering a straightforward beat both taut and relaxed, as well as tactfully responding to the soloists without getting in anyone's way. Throughout the up tempo "Up Over and Out," the slow-to-middling paced "Theme For Ernie," a ballad, "I Wished I Knew," and the brisk bossa, "Indian Summer," their stimulating good taste always puts the music in a positive place. Miner, thankfully, is well positioned in the mix, the better to hear his flawless intonation, smart note choices and bedrock time. For the most part, dynamically speaking, Melito plays a shade under the bassist's line, nimbly managing snare and bass drum accents that provide a pleasant jolt. It's also good to hear the drummer's contribution to the heads, most notably on "Jet Stream," and "Blues Okura," where his rhythms around the kit correspond to the songs' melodies.
"I Wished I Knew" is notable for the ballad wisdom of Jerry Weldon. The tenor saxophonist knows that leaving things out and allowing the music to breathe has a profound effect on shaping a melody as well as an improvised line. These are things he successfully employs in various degrees during his solos on the record. While Melito and Miner nip at his heels, pianist Jeb Patton's left and right hands collide and vie for attentionyet maintain a sense of balancethroughout a bruising "Up Over and Out" solo that's attentive to form and development. Guitarist Peter Bernstein devises a somewhat idiosyncratic take on the 1960s pop song, "Wives and Lovers," waiting a split second to drop a note in an unexpected place, or galloping through a phrase, all the while taking care not to muss up the song's jaunty quality.
New York Connections is a convincing repudiation of the belief that you can't put a fresh spin on hard bop. Recommended.
Track Listing
Jet Stream; Theme For Ernie; Wives and Lovers; Five Will Get You Ten; Up Over and Out; I Wished I Knew; If Ever I Would Leave You; Indian Summer; Bolivia; The Knife; Blues Okura.
Personnel
Mike Melito
drumsMike Melito: drums; Jerry Weldon: tenor sax; Peter Bernstein: guitar; Jeb Patton: piano; Neal Miner: bass.
Album information
Title: New York Connections | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Weebop
< Previous
OWT
Next >
Sir Nebula