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Victor Magnani: Change Management
Can't quite see why it's called a trio AND quartet, when all tunes are credited to the four guys, but what's in a name? These ten tracks are going for cool summers, and they accurately achieve that ice tea flavor, lemon and all.
A few of the cuts are more blues than jazz, like the slothful "Sing Me Softly of the Blues" (of course), from Bley's side of the pen. Trouble is, on this type (and there are a few of them: "Chelsea Bridge" is another), while Victor lights up his electric for spinning out an easygoing melodic riff, the drummer (I assume) keeps stirring the pot up with noise. I keep having to pause the CD to make sure it's not someone in the backyard walking through leaves. Gets a bit distracting.
So, while you might want to stick with some of the fuller tracks like "Good Bait," remember this is a guitar album. Most songs start out slow and build and build onto that annex. "Good Bait" is an experiment in smooth jazz, just to prove they can do it. And do it, they can. Still, it's not the sound of the CD, merely a part of it. (Now I know it's a Trio as wellsaxophonist Gagliardi doesn't get his finger into every pie shown.)
From the first notes of the ten, we know whose release this is. "Body and Soul" has Magnani sitting there all alone for a moment, showing off his '60s style of soft pluck. Then the sticks come in, the bass hovers, and the entire unit takes us into a grand Peanuts session: a fine opening for a seasoned string jockey.
Personnel
Victor Magnani
guitarAndy Alonso: bass; Mark Banfitch: drums; Billy Gagliardi: saxophone, Victor Magnani: guitar.
Album information
Title: Change Management | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Counterpart Records
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Victor Magnani Trio & Quartet
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Victor Magnani
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Counterpart Records
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Change Management