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Marc Copland Quartet: Someday
ByThe bottom line: Marc Copland is probably best known for his trio work. With the possible exception Bill Evans, nobody has consistently worked the format with such finesse and success, with such a deft subtlety of touch and harmonic depth, and created such stunning beauty.
But Copland's work with horn men should not be overlooked. Trumpeters Ralph Alessi, Randy Brecker and Tim Hagan, as well as saxophonists Greg Osby and Dave Liebman, have contributed their artistry to Copland's recordings. Now, with Someday, Copland enlists saxophonist Robin Verheyen, in a quartet outing that includes veteran bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber. Considering the previously-mentioned Pirouet releases, this is less identifiable as an allstar affair. Drummer Ferber and saxophonist Verheyan do not have the high-end profiles of Copland's previous recording mates like bassist Gary Peacock or guitarist John Abercrombie or drummer Paul Motian. But all three are both locked into Copland's vision of how things should soundthe elasticity of melody, the fluid spontaneity, the zest for surprises and the embrace of beauty. The result: one of Copland's finest efforts, and certainly his best quartet outing to date.
The disc opens with the familiar "Someday My Prince Will Come." Copland sidles into the melody as if it is something sacred. Verhetyan follows him there, opening the church doors for Gress and Ferber, who join in the creation of a four-way prayer, hushed and reverent. The Copland original "Spinning Things" follows, featuring edgy four-way interplay. Ferber's drum work leans toward the unorthodox, with an approach that brings Paul Motian and Jon Christensen to mind. Copland's solo floats on a cloud. His touch here is unaffected by gravity, delicate and flowing, lighter than air, as it always is on his solo projectsthe terrific Nightfall (InnerVoiceJazz, 2017) and breathtaking John (Illusions Mirage, 2020).
"Dukish" was written by Verheyen. It is a tribute to Duke Ellington, with the author blowing in the tenor sax's higher register with a gentle touch, taking alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges' chair inside a spare arrangement.
Included also are two more standardsThelonious Monk's "Let's Cool One," which sounds as if it was a lot of fun to play, and the closer, Miles Davis' "Nardis," with Verheyen bringing Ben Webster to mind.
The keys that open the door to welcome this album to the status of Copland's Best Quartet set: Gress, Verheyan and Ferber's flexibility and compatibility with Copland's long-established concept of finessed beauty featuring memorable melodies embedded in washes of harmonic depth with their sideman immersions into the leader's magic.
Music is magic in this group's hands, and Marc Copland is the master magician.
Track Listing
Someday My Prince Will Come; Spinning Things; Dukish; Let's Cool One; Round She Goes; Encore; Day And Night; Nardis.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Someday | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: InnerVoiceJazz
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Marc Copland Quartet
Album Review
Dan McClenaghan
Someday
InnerVoiceJazz
Marc Copland
Bill Evans
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randy brecker
Greg Osby
Dave Liebman
Robin Verheyen
Drew Gress
Mark Ferber
Gary Peacock
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