Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Doug Munro: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0
Doug Munro: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0
ByThe guitarist has a light touch and generally stays close to the melody on most tracks, opening with a shimmering treatment of Chick Corea's "Spain" (which itself is based in part on classical guitarist Joaquin Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto) and following it with a hip bossa nova arrangement of Thelonious Monk's bluesy "Bemsha Swing."
Sonny Rollins' blues "Blue Seven" has not been recorded often, but Munro's scoring blends elements of bossa nova and calypso rhythms. An extended workout of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" works well, though his best playing of the date may be in a relatively straight-ahead interpretation of Wayne Shorter's "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum."
Of his several originals, the mid-tempo bossa nova "A Day at the Races" is the highlight, even though it is thinly disguised reworking of Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia." There are some misfires though. Rocker Beck's "Devil's Haircut" is rather monotonous in spite of Munro's best efforts, while the original "Prayer" is a bit too pop-flavored and sounds as if it is derived in part from Eric Clapton's "Tears From Heaven."
Track Listing
Spain; Bemsha Swing; Stick N' Stones; Devil's Haircut; Blue Seven; A Day At The Races; Little Sunflower; Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum; Something I Heard; Prayer.
Personnel
Doug Munro
guitarDoug Munro: acoustic guitar, Takamine guitar, hand percussions; Michael Goetz: bass; Jason "J Dog" Devlin: drums (2-5, 7-10); Jason Anderson: drums (1, 6).
Album information
Title: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0 | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Chase Music Group
< Previous
Xylobiont
Next >
Solo in Berlin 1975