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Five Play: Five Play ...Plus
ByBoth Maricle and Strassmeyer are back, while Dreyer's alto has been replaced by the wonderfully rich tenor of Israeli-born/New York-based Anat Cohen. In addition, pianist Tomoko Ohno and bassist Noriko Ueda complete the decidedly international fivesome. Special appearances by trumpeters Jami Dauber and Barbara Laronga on selected cuts make it obvious that the band has taken the opportunity to stretch out creatively while still maintaining that hot sound.
Dave Brubeck's "Theme from Mr. Broadway opens things up with a sweet alto/tenor voicing that is quickly buttressed by Maricle's driving drums, allowing Cohen and Strassmeyer to trade solos. Cohen's arrangement of "That Old Feeling has her evincing a surprisingly luscious light touch on clarinet, and her reworking of Willy Wonka's "Pure Imagination includes creative changes and delightful piano improv from Ohno.
It's Strassmeyer's turn to display her arranging skills on a swinging funky version of "Funk in a Deep Freeze (showcasing Dauber's trumpet) and Chick Corea's homage "Bud Powell. The latter's pumping Ueda bass, Latin percussive break, and Laronga horn solo dueling with the saxophones is right on the button. A touchingly tender extended version of "Crazy He Calls Me and novel presentations of "On the Good Ship Lollypop and the Wizard of Oz scarecrow classic "If I Only Had a Brain make this session worthy of repeated listenings.
Track Listing
Theme from Mr. Broadway; That Old Feeling; Funk in Deep Freeze; Crazy, He Calls Me; If I Only Had a Brain; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; Pure Imagination; Bud Powell; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; On the Good Ship Lollipop.
Personnel
Five Play
band / ensemble / orchestraSherrie Maricle: leader, drums; Anat Cohen: tenor sax, clarinet; Karolina Strassmayer: alto sax, flute; Tomoko Ohno: piano; Noriko Ueda: bass. Special guests Jami Dauber: trumpet, flugelhorn (3, 7, 10); Barbara Laronga: trumpet, flugelhorn (8-10).
Album information
Title: Five Play ...Plus | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Arbors Records
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About Five Play
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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