Home » Jazz Articles » The Bert van den Brink Trio with Rick Margitza: Conversations

The Bert van den Brink Trio with Rick Margitza: Conversations

By Robert Spencer
December 1, 1999
Sign in to view read count

The Bert van den Brink Trio with Rick Margitza: Conversations

Conversations is a soulful disc of jazz and jazz/funk. Often the latter comes in unexpectedly: John Coltrane's "Naima" is invested by drummer Hans van Oosterhout with a heavy funk beat, although tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza plays rather conventionally over it. But of course this is no indication that this quartet isn't capable of shifting down to play a ballad: there's Jacques Brel's "La Chanson des Vieux Amants" immediately following "Naima," and played with a keen sincerity and no funk at all.

In fact, most of this disc has a smoky and intimate feel. Margitza has a warm, buttery tone, and van den Brink displays Evansian delicacy. The rhythm men are competent and unassuming. Then on tracks like the loping "Brother, Can You Spare Me a Dime" they kick it around a little, all in good fun.

This is a disc for late nights with the lights low and the wine poured. Not flashy, not self-important, and full of pleasant jazz wll-played.

Personnel

Bert van den Brink, p; Rick Margitza, ts; Hans Van de Geyn, b; Hans van Osterhout, d.

Track listing: You Must Believe in Spring / Naima / Le Chanson des Vieux Amants / His Eyes, Her Eyes / All the Things You Are / A Child is Born / Secret Love / The Look of Love / Emily / Brother, Can You Spare Me a Dime / A House is Not a Home.

Album information

Title: Conversations | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Challenge Records

Post a comment about this album

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

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.

WE NEED YOUR 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.