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Richie Cole and the Alto Madness Orchestra: Rise's Rose Garden
ByIn spite of the unhappy circumstances encircling the session, the mood is decidedly upbeat, and one scarcely glimpses the sadness that must have been in everyone's heart. Cole is the same gregarious player he has always been, and he shares space so generously with other members of the AMO that only the name on the marquee (and the fact that he arranged every tune) affirms his status as leader of the band. The core group is reinforced by the presence on several tracks of a number of talented guest artistspianist Don Friedman, guitarist Vic Juris, trumpeter Jack Walrath and percussionist Ray Mantilla.
Friedman, who plays on all but one selection, is especially impressive, both soloing and comping, as is Juris, whose warm single-note lines adorn eight tracks. Walrath, who is more at home in a cerebral environment, seems somewhat less sure of himself on the level terrain as he searches for a comfortable groove on four numbers. Mantilla's percussion underscores drummer Wayne Dunton on "Nightfall (disc one) and "Ewing Cha Cha (disc two). Cole really cuts loose only thrice, on the standard "There Will Never Be Another You on which he is backed by Juris, Dunton and bassist Rick Craneand his own compositions "Mr. Everything and "Psycho-la-Tron. His other solos are relatively concise, as are those of tenor saxophonist Bobby Howell, trombonist Rick Stepton, and trumpeters Nathan Eklund and Chris Jaudes. Juris is showcased on the samba "First Bloom, Friedman on "Speak Low and the venerable Eddie Heywood favorite, "Canadian Sunset.
"Bloom, one of nine originals by Cole, is among three with Latin roots (the others are "Nightfall and "Ewing Cha Cha ). Every one of his themes is of more than passing interest, especially the flag-wavers "Three East and "Psycho-la-Tron, both on disc two. "Lost January is a barely disguised "East of the Sun, "Garden in the Moonlight a neo-swinger, "A Night in Toyoma an ambling shuffle, as is the Fats Domino hit from the '50s, "Blueberry Hill. Disc two closes with the lovely Jerry Bock/Sheldon Harnick ballad "Now I Have Everything, splendidly performed by Cole and the rhythm section.
While there's nothing here that will raise goose bumps, everything is nicely played and the AMO swings freely when the occasion demands. It's a loving tribute that surely would have made Risë smile.
Track Listing
CD1: Ris
Personnel
Richie Cole
saxophone, altoCD1: Richie Cole: alto sax; Bobby Howell: tenor sax; Nathan Eklund (1,3,4,8), Chris Jaudes (5-7,9): trumpet; Rick Stepton: trombone; Vic Juris (2,5-7,9): guitar; Don Friedman: piano; Rick Crane: bass; Wayne Dunton: drums; Ray Mantilla (3): percussion. CD2: Cole: alto sax; Howell: tenor sax; Eklund (2-4,7,8), Jaudes (1,5,6), Jack Walrath (2-4, 7): trumpet; Stepton: trombone; Juris (1,5,6): guitar; Friedman: piano; Crane: bass; Dunton: drums; Mantilla (3): percussion.
Album information
Title: Rise's Rose Garden | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Jazz Excursion Records
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