Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Janeway: Distant Voices

7

David Janeway: Distant Voices

By

Sign in to view read count
David Janeway: Distant Voices
In 2017 pianist David Janeway offered his Secret Passages, a trio outing featuring bassist Frank Tate and drummer Chuck Zeuren. He proves, in 2021, that he can change partners without losing an ounce of swing or even a shot glass of verve. It is Cameron Brown on bass this time out, with Billy Hart sitting in the drum chair. Both are serious, elevate-the-music guys, while Janeway continues with his sprightly cerebralism and crystalline-touch way of making music.

Distant Voices is packed with well-chosen standards and Great American Songbook gems, some familiar—Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti; Robert Altman's "All Or Nothing At All"—and some that lean to the more obscure side, such as bassist Gary Peacock's "Gardinia" and Walter Bishops's "Waltz For Zweetie." And throw in four distinctive tunes from Janeway's pen which fit right in to the mood of the set, "One For Cedar," "Excursion," "In Passing" and "Movin' On."

In a blindfold test of Distant Voices the name Hank Jones might come up. Jones and Janeway share similar styles, with the crisp display of single notes in the melodies, the lush chords. A style that—to use an outdated description, perhaps—could be tagged "classy." Hank Jones classy, Red Garland classy. Janeway and the trio cover Jones' "Minor Contention" to follow up the zingy opener, "Sweet And Lovely." Janeway, Brown and Hart share a rhythmic up-tempo sympathy on Jones' composition, taking things to a breakneck speed, before they ease off the momentum for Mercer Ellington's "Blue Serge," using the spacious arrangement which Bill Evans used on the tune, making the music levitate.

And while the trio illuminates the covers, it also makes the Janeway compositions sound like classics. Working bands seem a thing of the past, but these three virtuosos sound like one; they sound like a group settled into the comfort zone, players who go on the road together for six months of the year, and love every minute of it, after which they go into the studio and turn out a compelling and polished product.

Track Listing

Sweet And Lovely; Minor Contention; Blue Serge; Moontrane; Gardenia; One For Cedar; Brigitte; Waltz For Zweetie; Excursion; All Or Nothing At All; In Passing; Nefertiti; Movin' On.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Distant Voices | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: SteepleChase Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter 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.

You Can 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.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.