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The Nuttree Quartet (John Abercrombie / Jerry Bergonzi / Adam Nussbaum / Gary Versace): Standards
ByThe members of The Nuttree Quartet have all worked with each other in different contextsincluding organist Gary Versace and Nussbaum in guitarist John Abercrombie's organ trio when original keyboardist Dan Wall gave up the road a few years backjust not together as a quartet. Still, the shared chemistry that's evolved over the years is evident from the first notes of "Our Love is Here to Stay," a Gershwin tune treated with an appropriate mix of respect and irreverence, especially when a whole tone vamp takes it out with unexpected fire as Bergonzi and Abercrombie generate some linear heat over Nussbaum and Versace's powerful backbone.
Versace, as comfortable with John Scofield's soulful Music of Ray Charles tour as he is applying Western harmonies to guitarist Rez Abbasi's Indo-centric Bazaar (Zoho, 2006), is equally at home here, with an arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" that retains its familiar melody and base changes, but is so radically reharmonized as to sound as though it were written yesterday. His extended soloequal parts direct lyricism and abstract impressionismproves there's plenty of life left in a song that's well over six decades old.
Wayne Shorter's iconic "Footprints" receives a high velocity treatment here, with Nussbaum's two solosone at the intro and later, after solos from his cohorts that culminate in a turn of breathtaking intensity from saxophonist Jerry Bergonziare a near-perfect combination of polyrhythmic and melodic invention. His kit is so beautifully tuned (and recorded, as is the entire quartet) that the changes and familiar bass line are always implied and, at times, clearly heard; a marvel that makes him more than a just a rhythmic anchor, but a melodic counterpoint throughout the session.
Abercrombie, the quartet's most visible member, has long relied on standards for a practice tool at home, and listening to Standards it's clear why. The best in forward-reaching music comes from knowledge of what's come before, and The Nuttree Quartet lives comfortably in both spaces, delivering a set of certain appeal to fans of the tradition while providing no shortage of meat for those more disposed to music with a modern edge.
Track Listing
Our Love is Here to Stay; Come Sunday; Footprints; Sometime Ago; Witchcraft; Israel; Eronel; All or Nothing at All; 12 Bars to Go; Naima.
Personnel
Adam Nussbaum
drumsJohn Abercrombie: guitar; Jerry Bergonzi: tenor saxophone; Adam Nussbaum: drums; Gary Versace: Hammond B3 organ.
Album information
Title: Standards | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Kind of Blue Records
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