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Ted Curson: In Paris: Live at the Sunside
ByLike Dizzy Gillespie, Curson's intonation and power aren't what they were as a younger man, but his solos are still full of risk-taking moments. The obvious highlights of the first disc are the instrumentals, including smoldering up-tempo interpretations of "Caravan and "Dig, a swaggering "Woody 'n You (featuring the leader's spirited flugelhorn), plus a strutting "Cantaloupe Island, that showcases pianist Alain Jean-Marie and adds conga player Julie Saury. The vocal numbers are a bit uneven by comparison. Curson's "Tears For Dolphy (written in 1964) now features a heartfelt lyric, but the singers backing vocalist Janika Ventsel prove distracting. The trumpeter's vocals on the moving "'Round Midnight and a warm "Georgia On My Mind are sincere, mixing nostalgia with just a touch of humor. But his bluesy vocal of "Piima Boogie (evidently a popular brand of buttermilk) is strictly for laughs.
The second disc is a bit more consistent, starting with the rollicking "Reava's Waltz, a piece Curson named in honor of his mother but actually penned with Charles Mingus in mind (a favorite of Curson's mother). Saury returns on congas for a slinky interpretation of "Tin Tin Deo that also adds Guilaume Naturel on flute, while Curson sounds reminiscent of Gillespie late in his career. The band's blistering takes of "Confirmation and "Milestones work well, though Curson's decision to sing lead in "Lover Man (a woman's song if there ever was one) is rather odd, while "Cherokee benefits from Curson's lively scat and lead vocals.
Track Listing
Caravan; Tears For Dolphy; Dig; 'Round Midnight; Woody 'n You; Georgia on My Mind; Pilma Boogie; Reava's Waltz; Blueberry Hill; Tin Tin Deo; Lover Man; Milestones; Summertime; Cherokee; Confirmation; Blues Medley.
Personnel
Ted Curson
trumpetTed Curson: trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Alain Jean-Marie-piano; Gilles Naturel: bass; Philippe Sorat: drums; Pierrick Pedron: alto saxophone; Guilaume Naturel: flute; Julie Saury: percussion; Daiva Staarinskaite: vocals; Evrim Ozsuca: vocals; Sylvia Howard: vocals; Ferhat Oz: vocals; Jaanika Ventsel: vocals.
Album information
Title: In Paris: Live at the Sunside | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Blue Marge
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