Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dan Block: From His World To Mine: Dan Block Plays The M...

361

Dan Block: From His World To Mine: Dan Block Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington

By

Sign in to view read count
Dan Block: From His World To Mine: Dan Block Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington
Stevie Wonder referred to him as "the king of all"—him, being Duke Ellington, a master bandleader from the golden era of big band jazz. Dan Block pays tribute to Sir Duke with From His World to Mine.

Block is a saxophonist, clarinetist and composer who has associated with such artists as Clark Terry, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Feinstein and Rosemary Clooney. He has appeared numerous times on television's A Prairie Home Companion and has been heard on commercials and numerous motion picture soundtracks, including Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004) and Denzel Washington's The Great Debaters (2007).

The set begins with a lively take on "Kissing Bug." With Block leading the way on tenor, the band is tight as a unit, but the individuals also shine. Pianist Mike Kanan performs a leisurely solo, followed by vibraphonist Mark Sherman, each is accompanied by guitarist James Chirillo, bassist Lee Hudson and drummer Brian Grice, who injects rim shots and tom rolls at key moments. Drums and percussion engage in a playful dialogue, setting up a return to the melody.

"Old King Dooji" features Block on clarinet, accompanied only by piano, bass and drums. Solos are by Kanan and Grice, the latter being a full-kit workout. The mood evokes visions of a jaunt through a major city in the 1930s that hints of risk.

Clarinet and vibes are featured on "Are You Stickin'?" After Block's solo introduction, percussionist Renato Thoms brings up the congas, and a call-and-response sequence with the band segues into the melody.

From His World To Mine features 14 songs by Ellington's band, recorded on three dates with four different combinations of musicians. This approach provides a wide array of sounds from the Ellington catalog.

Track Listing

Kissing Bug; New York City Blues; Old King Dooji; Morning Glory; Are You Stickin'?; The Beautiful Indians; Suburbanite; Ballad Medley (All Heart / Change My Ways); Portrait of Bert Williams; Mt Harrissa; Creole Blues; Cotton Club Stomp; Rocks in my Bed; Second Line.

Personnel

Dan Block
saxophone

Dan Block: clarinet, bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, Bb clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Mike Kanan: piano; Lee Hudson: bass; James Chirillo: guitar; Brian Grice: drums; Mark Sherman: vibes (1, 2, 5, 10, 14); Renato Thoms: percussion (1, 2, 5, 10, 14); Pat O'Leary: cello (6, 9, 13).

Album information

Title: From His World To Mine: Dan Block Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Miles High Records

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.