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Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio: Angels Around
Thelonious Monk's "Ugly Beauty" opens the set with the balance between a contemporary sound and a modern jazz sensibility that characterizes everything here. Rosenwinkel outlines the head and the harmonies, taking flight during the solo sections; virtuosic without overt display. Deidda and Hutchinson provide empathetic support all the way. "Ease It" is a little known hard bop tune by legendary bassist Paul Chambers, first recorded on Go (Vee Jay Records, 1959). It includes a striking bass solo and—in true bebop fashion—solos traded between guitar and drums.
Fittingly, there is another fine Deidda solo on bassist Charles Mingus' "Self-Portrait In Three Colors," another unexpected choice for a guitar trio which works very well. There are two originals in the set. Rosenwinkel's "Simple #2" is not especially simple, but it is a driving modal 6/8 groove in the style of the classic John Coltrane Quartet. The title tune comes from Deidda's pen and is based around a chordal rock riff. The guitar dances over the top, then relentless repetition gives way to a gentle coda: a lovely, surprising conclusion to the tune and the album. Confident, accomplished playing all around, and Rosenwinkel aligns himself with the modern jazz tradition while still displaying an individual, contemporary guitar sound.
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Track Listing
Ugly Beauty; Ease It; Self Portrait in Three Colors; Simple #2; Punjab; Time Remembered; Angels Around
Personnel
Album information
Title: Angels Around | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Heartcore Records
About Kurt Rosenwinkel
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