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Project O: Now as Then
ByIt's an unusually poignant thank-you to the soundman, and the music is indeed captured beautifully. The program begins with a complex reading of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" that moves from loping 7/4 to a faster 4/4 swing in the bridge and finally to a funk coda. "R Hour," one of two Jensen/Wikan co-creations, follows in mellow swing time; its nine-bar A section and AAB form throw the listener slightly off-balance. Versace plays chordlessly to open Jensen's solo; she enhances the effect with clever partial muting. We also hear from Steve Wilson on alto sax.
As it happens, Versace's moody, straight-eighth piece "Now As Then" is the only time we hear the trio alone, without guest soloists. Following this, Seamus Blake, who played on the opening standard, returns for his understated waltz "Periwinkle." Mary Lou Williams' "Gloria," heard in a light but spirited funk feel, is one of Project O's creative peaks, with a restrained yet quite difficult shout chorus following the organ solo and an ecstatic round of trading between sisters Ingrid and Christine (the latter playing soprano sax).
The second Wikan/Jensen piece, "Silver Prelude/Silver Twilight," begins with dark scene- setting harmonies before morphing into a waltz; Steve Wilson's alto flute blends sumptuously with the organ. Wikan's straight-eighth original "Tony's Town" provides another feature for Seamus Blake and paves the way for the finale, a mid-tempo hard bop tune by Christine Jensen called "Dilemma." Steve Wilson and the younger Jensen trade increasingly shorter statements on alto saxophones; Ingrid breaks up the fight with a reflective but firm statement of her own.
For an especially rich comparative listen, check out Larry Young's newly reissued Mother Ship (Blue Note) featuring Lee Morgan on trumpet, Herbert Morgan on tenor and Eddie Gladden on drums.
Track Listing
1. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes 2. R Hour 3. Now As Then 4. Periwinkle 5. Gloria 6. Silver Prelude/Silver Twilight 7. Tony's Town 8. Dilemma
Personnel
Ingrid Jensen, Trumpet; Gary Versace, Organ; Jon Wikan, Drums. Guests: Steve Wilson, Alto Sax on 1 and 4, Alto Flute on 6; Seamus Blake, Tenor Sax on 2, 3, 5 and 7; Christine Jensen, Alto Sax on 1 and 8, Soprano Sax on 7
Album information
Title: Now As Then | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Harmonyville Records