Jon Burr Band: Just Can't Wait (2009)

Woodrow Wilkins

since 2004

Woody started in jazz with the diverse sounds of Maynard Ferguson's bands of the 1970s.

Recent articles (361 total)

Published: March 7, 2009

Bassist Jon Burr has spent many years supporting other artists. He brings a lot of that experience into Just Can't Wait, a 14-song collection that reflects the artist's obsession with love.

Burr has toured and recorded with musicians such as Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Horace Silver and Stéphane Grappelli. Vocalists who have shared the stage or studio with him include Lainie Kazan, Rita Moreno and Eartha Kitt. The CD is paired with Live at Birdland, a DVD featuring many of the same songs during the CD's release party. Burr is accompanied by a variable lineup of pianists, drummers, saxophonists and vocalists, including his daughter, Tyler Burr.

The title song features Ty Stephens on lead vocal, with Houston Person performing a bright saxophone solo. The track is a swinging, pop-blues number. Loston Harris contributes a lively piano solo, and John Hart provides rhythm guitar.

For a change of pace, Yaala Ballin sings lead on the tropical ballad "Please Tell Me." The song has a bit of a Miami Beach feel, aided largely by Joel Frahm's sultry sax and Anthony Pinciotti's drum play.

Hilary Kole steps in for the elegant "Snowfall," aided by Bob Mintzer on soprano sax. Kole's voice is like a whispery flute. Hart and Pinciotti help add emphasis. Burr's own play is a little more evident here. "Eden by the Sea" again features Ballin on lead vocals, with Frahm on sax, Ted Leventhal on piano and Pinciotti on drums. Frahm's tenor is rich during his solo.

Burr wrote all 14 tracks. Some were recorded as instrumentals, but all share the common denominator of having lyrics written to reflect Burr's experience of being in love with a woman who was committed to someone else. The songs are all moving, and strike a pleasing balance of vocal with instrumental. The styles vary from straight jazz to blues to pop and even country.

Track Listing: Just Can

Personnel: John Burr: bass; Ty Stephens: vocal (1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13); Houston Person: sax (1, 11); Loston Harris: piano (1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13); John Hart: guitar (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11-14); Dave Gibson: drums (1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13); Yaala Ballin: vocal (2, 6, 10); Joel Frahm: sax (2, 6, 7, 13, 14); Jon Davis: piano (2, 4, 8, 10, 12); Anthony Pinciotti: drums (2, 4, 6-8, 10, 12, 14); Dominick Farinacci: trumpet (3, 5, 9); Mario Cruz: sax (3, 5); Hilary Kole: vocal (4, 12); Bob Mintzer: sax (4, 8); Ted Rosenthal: piano (6, 7, 14); Laurel Masse: vocal (7); Yotam Silberstein: guitar (7, 14); Anat Cohen: sax (10); Tyler Burr: vocal (14).

Record Label: jbQ Media
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream