Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tommy Cecil: Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2

4

Tommy Cecil: Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2

By

Sign in to view read count
Tommy Cecil: Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2
This is the follow-up to the 2012 Side By Side: Sondheim Duos by the same brilliant pairing of Tommy Cecil, bass, and Bill Mays, piano. From the opener, the jaunty "Everybody Says Don't" (from Anyone Can Whistle, 1964), it's clear that this 2013 session will unfold like the first—laced with superb technique, imaginative arrangements, feeling and wit. And also like Volume 1, this session neatly punctures the old cliché that Sondheim may be a gifted lyricist, but cannot write beautiful melodies; once again, these players bring each gem to full gleam with the power and variety of their interpretations.

In fact, three of Sondheim's most gorgeous tunes are here: "Johanna," with its yearning message underscored by Cecil's rich arco; "Losing My Mind," where Mays uses dissonance to suggest the process of doing precisely that; and the anthemic "Being Alive," a favorite cabaret belter that gets a more thoughtful and jazzy treatment here. On the rollicking numbers, Cecil and Mays provide consistent delight, which is an increasingly rare commodity among today's popular sounds. There is playfulness and discovery here, especially when the two trade fours and sprinkle quotes.

Among many such moments, there's a "Bye Bye Blackbird" interchange in the midst of something else, an abrupt and funny nod to "The Toreador Song," and a fade-out vamp with classic "Killer Joe." And meanwhile, it all swings like crazy. All told, Our Time provides the ideal musical combination: it's food for the brain, joy to the ears, and a boost to the spirit.

Track Listing

Everybody Says Don’t; Johanna; Our Time; Moments in the Woods; Finishing the Hat; The Miller’s Son; Losing My Mind; The Best Thing That Has Ever Happened; Agony; Being Alive; Rich and Happy.

Personnel

Tommy Cecil: bass; Bill Mays: piano.

Album information

Title: Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2 | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Tommy Cecil

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

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

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.