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Randy Simon Jazz Project: Nyhavn Live
ByWith NYHAVN Live (pronounced "Neye-HAH-vin," a reference to a Copenhagen waterway), composer/arranger Randy Simon and the superb players of his Randy Simon Jazz Project hark back to an era where robust, infectious melodies were created and historic improvisations ensued. There's that engaging element and more to this recording: it's classicbut stands on its own significant meritand swings. And it does so, having been recorded live.
Using a traditional two-horn frontline and rhythm section, the quintet of first-class Albany, NY-area musicians moves with great drive across eleven Simon originals. A former physicist who came to jazz composition late, Simon's writing chops are superb. His well-studied pen is steeped deeply in the '60s genre and channelsbut does not cloy atthe aforementioned greats. His melodies are intelligent, virile, and memorablea mainstay of the genre. Rhythmically, he offers Latin and other grooves that spin thoughtful modal tonalities.
Highly imaginative trumpeter/flugelhornist Dylan Canterbury pieces together lengthy, well-engineered solos that build in momentum and belie his age (24). His introduction to "Soaring" is gorgeously expressive over Lindquist's beautiful impressionist underlays. Saxophonist Kevin Barcomb bears both Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter influences in an engaging, lyrical style. Pianist Rob Lundquist beautifully interprets the Latin-tinged "Season to Taste" and just about everything on the date. The rhythm section of John Menegon and Danny Welchel parlays to provide a rock-solid foundation, ever infusing gas on the fire. Together, this group is indeed a conflagration of talent.
NYHAVN Live is an outstanding performance by a group of terrific musicians and a composer of significant talent and potential. Now that's Natural Law for thisanother "Night of the Cookers."
Track Listing
Cultural Exchange; Gold Standard; Glide; Climber; Season to Taste; Questions; Another Interlude; Foothills; Nyhavn; Soaring; Keep Walking.
Personnel
Randy Simon Jazz Project
composer / conductorRob Lindquist: piano; Dylan Canterbury: trumpet; flugelhorn; Kevin Barcomb: saxophones; John Menegon: bass; Danny Whelchel: drums.
Album information
Title: Nyhavn Live | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Self Produced
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About Randy Simon Jazz Project
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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