Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Rob McConnell Sextet: Old Friends / New Music
The Rob McConnell Sextet: Old Friends / New Music
ByThe eight tunes comprising this session feature four jazz classics and four new compositions including two by McConnell. The opening track is Ray Brown's "Ray's Idea" and it is a swinger starting with some tight unison playing from the front line in typical McConnell fashion. Everyone feeds off this frame with standout solos from Basso, Wilkins and McConnell. The rhythm section is percolating in the background with Bickert's comping leading the way. Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" is done as a relaxed ballad. After the front line states the theme, Bickert delivers a precise and articulate solo and a subsequent intervention by Wilkins is full of his relaxed phrasing.
"Friends Again" is contrafact by Larry Morgan based on the chord changes to the standard "Just Friends." This intense arrangement requires challenging execution and precise playing by the front line before Bickert jumps in with an extended solo filled with his usual blistering and relentless work on the fretboard. There is also some tricky contrapuntal playing between McConnell and Basso. McConnell's "All The Best" has a lovely ballad line. Although he usually kept his solo efforts to a minimum, McConnell's efforts here are a welcome reminder of his smooth talents in this capacity. Guitarist Jim Hall wrote and recorded "Simple Samba" in 1972 and the sextet brings the number joyously alive with their arrangement. Clarke's melodic sense cuts a distictive path over which the horns are effusively engaged with the percolating theme.
The closing track is Rick Wilkins' "Countless Blues," which was written shortly after the death of Count Basie. The bluesy groove is a feature for Bickert, whose fleet-fingered playing cuts a channel through the tune.
Track Listing
Ray's Idea; There's Been Too Many Changes; Pannonica; Greenhouse; Friends Again; All The Best; Simple Samba; Countless Blues.
Personnel
Rob McConnell
tromboneGuido Basso
trumpetRick Wilkins
saxophone, tenorEd Bickert
guitarSteve Wallace
bass, acousticTerry Clarke
drumsAlbum information
Title: Old Friends / New Music | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Cornerstone Records Inc.
< Previous
Snarky Puppy regular Bob Lanzetti, Ja...
Comments
Tags
The Rob McConnell Sextet
Album Review
Pierre Giroux
Old Friends/new music
Cornerstone Records Inc.
Rob McConnell
Guido Basso
Rick Wilkins
Ed Bickert
Steve Wallace
Terry Clarke
Ray Brown
Thelonious Monk
Larry Morgan
Jim Hall
Count Basie