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Lajos Dudas Quartet: Jazz And The City
ByOn Jazz And The City Dudas combines four of his own tunes with half a dozen well-known standards. Dudas and guitarist Philip van Endert weave their melodies over bassist Martin Gjakonowski and drummer Kurt Bilker's swinging, occasionally funky, rhythms. The lead players both have warm, flowing, styles that engage beautifully with the classic lines of Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day" and Harold Arlen's "I've Got The World On A String." Dudas' arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's "America" is less successful; his soft, smooth, clarinet style fails to match the assertiveness of Bilker and Gjakonowski's strident rhythm, which better encapsulates the song's energy.
"Just Friends" is a beautifully sedate take on the Klemmer and Lewis classic. Dudas' tone is at its warmest and woodiest, while the other band members offer sympathetic, thoughtful support; it's a master class in musical sensitivity.
Dudas' compositions are characterized by a gentle swing, a relaxed vibe that makes them sound familiar and comforting. "Cab Car" has a late night bluesy feel, accentuated by van Endert's guitar solo. While "Riffs" is a jaunty, cheeky, upbeat tune. "Miles" and "Soft Waves" are rich, heartwarming, numbers that mix balladry with Bilker's solid drumming and some fine comping from van Endert.
Dudas originally released Jazz And The City in 2004 (Konnex Records). It's part of an extensive discographyover 30 albums since 1977that includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach as well as mainstream jazz and improvised music. This is a welcome rerelease from a stylish master of the clarinet.
Track Listing
Riffs; Miles; Here's That Rainy Day; Hommage to O. P.; America; Cab Car; I've Got The World On A String; Soft Waves; Take 5; Just Friends.
Personnel
Lajos Dudas
clarinetLajos Dudas: clarinet; Philipp van Endert: guitar; Martin Gjakonowski: bass; Kurt Bilker: drums.
Album information
Title: Jazz And The City | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: JazzSick Records
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