Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » 3Play+: American Waltz

299

3Play+: American Waltz

By

Sign in to view read count
3Play+: American Waltz
The cleverly titled American Waltz might deserve a more fitting inscription as American Quilt," because woven into the admirably crafted compositions of leader/pianist Josh Rosen are all the elements that are American music.

Rosen, a faculty member at Berklee College of Music, lists Bob Moses, Bennie Wallace, and }}George Schuller}} as performance partners. Besides projects with Ethiopian master musician Mulatu Astake, Stan Strickland, Dave Fox's Adventures In Sound, Bangalore and The Infinite Ensemble, he toured with Ethiopiques and the Either/Orchestra in 2008.

3 Play+'s cofounder is bassist Lello Molinari, another professor at Berklee. The band's progression has led to the current lineup that includes drummer Marcello Pellitteri and trumpeter Phil Grenadier.

The disc opens with the Copland-esque title track, featuring guest guitarist Mick Goodrick's folky sound. When Grenadier steps up for his part, the Americana is fully revealed. This sweet track could easily be identified as a Bill Frisell/Ron Miles collaboration. That feeling is the bookend to the electric-Miles Davis jam of "Bulletrain," a 20 minute-plus workout that moves from freak-out to blues groove, with Goodrick playing host to the overtly casual grooves cut by Grenadier.

In between, the band delivers more tasty American music, such as the Sonny Rollins tribute "Buttah," with tenor saxophonist George Garzone sizzling through with his signature sound. There is a soft ballad, "How Do I Know What I Don't Know?," and a skittering stop/start chase "Be A Battery." Rosen features Molinari and Grenadier on "Happy Cramping," as they chase each other's tails, trading energy through musical gymnastics.

Throughout American Waltz, the compositions and playing are nicely balanced to allow for each to share the spotlight.

Track Listing

American Waltz: Buttah; Happy Cramping; How Do I Know What I Don

Personnel

Phil Grenadier: trumpet; Josh Rosen: piano; Lello Molinari: bass; Marcello Pellitteri: drums; Mick Goodrick: guitar; George Garzone: tenor saxophone.

Album information

Title: American Waltz | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Ziggle Zaggle Music

Comments

Tags

Concerts

Mar 25 Mon

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.