Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tom Cox & Bill Huntington: Red

4

Tom Cox & Bill Huntington: Red

By

Sign in to view read count
Tom Cox & Bill Huntington: Red
Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once said, "All politics is local." The same can be said of music, particularly when considering that music so close to home it is often missed. Little Rock-native Tom Cox teaches jazz piano and jazz combo after having taught at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and Akron University's Firestone Conservatory of Music and performed with Freddie Hubbard and Cannonball Adderley. Bassist Bill Huntington was part of the Hurricane Katrina diaspora that included noted New Orleans guitarist Ted Ludwig. Huntington spent a decade as Ellis Marsalis's studio bassist and also taught in the jazz studies departments of Loyola and the University of New Orleans. The two artists prove simpatico on the dually credited Red, recorded and mixed in the Little Rock area.

The pair program an interesting ten-song collection of original compositions as well as some off-the-beaten-path "standards" from the likes of Billy Strayhorn and Chick Corea. Cox is cerebral composer who first visualizes and then composes. "Music for Film" sounds exactly as the title. A ballad, Cox performs the piece with a New Age serenity sans the empty pathos. Bill Somer's marching "Bluse to Youse" permits both musicians to walk briskly within a contemporary composition. "I Fall In Love Too Easily," the best known of the standards, effects as a swaying waltz, with Cox introducing light re- harmonizations that allow Huntington space and time for solo thought.

The disc centerpiece is Cox's lengthy consideration of the ballad "Danny Boy." Cox re-harmonizes the piece more aggressively than others on the recording. The pianist retains the sweetness and sentiment of the ballad, expanding on this character in his carefully hewn solo. Again, Cox uses a New Age harmonic approach that suffers from none of the banal excess of the genre. Huntington plays with his greatest empathy here. There is much to like in this fine disc. It is a celebration of virtuosity and friendship.

Track Listing

Music for Film; Bluse to Youse; I Fall In Love To Easily; Danny Boy; Red; Star-Crossed Lovers, Summit; The Duke; A River Reaching; Samba E Amor.

Personnel

Tom Cox: piano; Bill Huntington: bass.

Album information

Title: Red | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced

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.
View events near Little Rock
Jazz Near Little Rock
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

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.