Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Vincent Herring: Ends And Means

301

Vincent Herring: Ends And Means

By

Sign in to view read count
Vincent Herring: Ends And Means
Ends and Means is Vincent Herring's fourth CD as a leader on the HighNote label. Where Herring once sounded like Cannonball Adderley, he has developed his own distinctive sound over the years, whether on alto or soprano. Herring was one of the young lions of the '80s and early '90s (although unfortunately underrated) and has matured into a respected leader in mainstream jazz. He now seems to be discovering and employing the new generation of young lions, including this time around trumpeter Jeremy Pelt (on four cuts) and pianist Danny Grissett.

The date includes the classic "Caravan, plus some two modern standards, Mulgrew Miller's "Wingspan" and Benny Golson's "Stable Mates, and Lennon and McCartney's "Norwegian Wood. Drummer Joris Dudli contributed two compositions. Dudli's playing provides a driving theme on the date, standing out especially in the give and take he has with Herring on "Caravan.

The set begins with the title track, which was composed by former Herring pianist Renato Chicco. Herring gets the affair started with some fiery playing, and given that the tune was composed by a pianist, it is only fitting that Grissett steps forward and shines, as he does on most of the tracks. He is clearly a young player to watch. Irving Berlin's "The Song Is Ended marks Pelt's first appearance. His fluid tone meshes perfectly with Herring's playing, making me wish he was on board for more than just four tracks.

"Wingspan is the name of Mulgrew Miller's ensemble and a classic bop tune. Miller and Herring have played on each other's records in the past and are part of the same generation of jazz musicians. This track, the highlight on this session, is given a royal treatment by Herring and Pelt, who soar in unison before taking up-tempo solos. They catch their breath while the rhythm section steps forward to keep things going. The song concludes with Herring and Pelt coming together again for one last dance.

While everyone in the band has a chance to shine, this is still clearly Herring's show. And Ends And Means is another excellent addition to his growing catalogue as a leader in the world of modern mainstream jazz.

Track Listing

Ends And Means; Tom Tom; The Song Is Ended; Stable Mates; Norwegian Wood; Wingspan; Thoughts; Caravan.

Personnel

Vincent Herring
saxophone

Vincent Herring: alto, and soprano saxophones: Danny Grissett: piano; Essiet Essiet: bass; Joris Dudli: drums; Jeremy Pelt: trumpet (3,6,7,8).

Album information

Title: Ends And Means | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: HighNote Records

Comments

Tags


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.