Home » Jazz Articles » New York Beat » 92nd Street Y Jazz in July: The Music of Clifford Brown
92nd Street Y Jazz in July: The Music of Clifford Brown
ByThe musical aggregation amassed for the evening included trumpeters Jeremy Pelt, Warren Vache, and Joe Magnarelli. The rhythm section featured the Washington boys Peter on bass and Kenny on drums. Charlap and his keyboard directed matters and new singing phenom Veronica Swift supplied the vocals.
The production was comprehensive with Clifford Brown compositions and recordings well represented; Such Brownie standards as "Joy Spring," "Daahoud," "Sandu," "Gerkin for Perkin," and "Blues Walk" were featured and the packed audience was treated to selections not heard in these parts for a while. The trumpet trio worked well although a tenor sax and two horns might have provided greater authenticity in capturing the Clifford BrownMax Roach imprimatur. The horn players played the Heads with confident aplomb and their improvisations were evocative of the hard bop magic that Brownie engineered over 60 years ago. The Washington rhythming was delivered with the usual understated authority and Charlap's comping and improvs provided a highlight for this writer. Swift's vocals were outstanding. The young star continues to increase her performance weaponry and delivers lyrics with the power of a jazz veteran. I was hoping for the inclusion of Sonny Rollins's tune "Pent-Up House" (Swift's Mom, jazz star Stephanie Nakasian wrote memorable Lyrics) which was recorded in the last session before Brownie's tragic demise in 1956.
The Jazz in July series continues to feature some of Gotham's most thoughtful jazz programming and, hopefully, Charlap and company can continue their masterful run.
< Previous
JJ Grey & Mofro, Jonny Lang and The N...
Next >
Bamako
Comments
Tags
New York Beat
Nick Catalano
Clifford Brown
Bill Charlap
Jeremy Pelt
Warren Vache
Joe Magnarelli
Veronica Swift
Max Roach
Sonny Rollins
Stephanie Nakasian