Stewy von Wattenwyl Generations Band: Live at Marians (2009)

Dan McClenaghan

Senior Contributor since 2002

A lover of sounds, and the way they fit together.

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Published: December 10, 2009

Stewy von Wattenwyl Generations Band: Live at Marians

Swiss pianist Stewy von Wattenwyl blasts into this high energy set, Live at Marians, with a blistering one-two punch of Wes Montgomery Wes Montgomery
1925 - 1968
guitar 's "Fried Pies" and John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone 's "Moments Notice." The leader pounds the keys in a McCoy Tyner McCoy Tyner
b.1938
piano mode, and saxophonist Eric Alexander Eric Alexander
b.1968
sax, tenor sounds raw and just barely tamed. This is not a sound that can be called laidback; this is a gale force wind gusting into town.

Von Wattenwyl, a well-versed keyboardist, has a discography that includes a fine trio outing, Dienda (Brambus Records, 2005), a ham-hocks-in-the-collard-greens organ/sax/drums/trumpet affair with Wabash (Bemsha Music, 2005), and a previous outing with Alexander, Live at Bird's Eye (Roving Sirits, 2003). The live setting definitely agrees with the Swiss keyboardist. The music on Live at Marians crackles with spontaneity, and nobody is being careful. These guys came to kick down the doors and play some jazz.

The band slows the pace on the Kahn/Van Heusen standard "All the Way," with von Wattenwyl displaying a tender touch behind Alexander's soulful horn. Tom Harrell Tom Harrell
b.1946
trumpet 's "Terrestris" cranks things back to a mid-tempo on the tightest performance of the night. The pianist opens Bill Evans Bill Evans
1929 - 1980
piano ' "Very Early" with a beautifully inward intro, before the saxophone comes in with a ringing tone.

The power's back on in a down tempo way with Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins
b.1930
saxophone ' "Sonnymoon for Two." Alexander digs deep, like Rollins, and the entire band seems particularly inspired and interactive on this down and dirty take, as Von Wattenwyl crafts a superb solo that takes flight in front of a rubbery rhythm.

Stanley Turrentine Stanley Turrentine
1934 - 2000
sax, tenor 's "Stan's Shuffle" features Wattenwyl and the band at their free-swinging best, wrapping things up with a tune that must have had the audience up out of their chairs and dancing.