Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tom Harrell: Paradise
Tom Harrell: Paradise
ByIn addition to his current working ensemble featuring pianist Xavier Davis and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene, Harrell adds to the mix a string ensemble including two violins, two cellos, viola, and harp. Be warned, however, that this is not your usual “plus strings” affair; Harrell has integrated the strings in a way that makes them much more than just window dressing.
“Daybreak” is the most overtly swinging number and it starts off the disc. The strings then step in for “Baroque Steps,” a moody line with a tick-tock under girding and some rich harmony parts for the strings, not unlike Gary McFarland’s writing for a ‘60s project with the Steve Kuhn trio. Roaming on the lift provided by a delicate bossa groove, “Nighttime” finds Harrell on the prowl with flugelhorn in hand. “Wind Chant” and “Sunrise” get their added colors from the harp and Freddie Bryant’s guitar. And while the first part of “Morning Prayer” is purely classical in nature, the second section goes into a lively samba that is effortlessly supported by drummer Adam Cruz.
In the end, Harrell presents nine charts that change things up and go to new places that longtime fans are likely to embrace lock, stock, and barrel.
Personnel
Tom Harrell
trumpetAlbum information
Title: Paradise | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: HighNote
Tags
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
