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Ximo Tebar: Steps
ByThe record strikes a mature note right at the very beginning. Henry Mancini's theme from The Pink Panther (1963) is a bold move that comes from being self-assured. A standard such as this is rarely attempted on a record, unless the performing artist is one who's cut his chops and paid his dues. Not only does Tebar open his session with a Mancini tune, but he does so at an even more laidback pace, virtually reinventing the time signature. He does no less with a complete reworking of John Coltrane's "26-2" that becomes a slow, sensuous, and swinging bossa nova, as he scats in accompaniment. Wayne Shorter's legendary "Nefertiti" is played bolero-like, but with a twisted, Latin flavor, and inhabits a constant, dreamlike state, with Orrin Evans' Rhodes and Tebar's guitar playing almost bashfully off each other. Herbie Hancock's "Actual Proof" is deconstructed with a gleefully boppish time signature, the undulating tones of the Rhodes creating a memorable, svelte background for the guitar and other instruments to enter the fray. But it is Tebar's compositions that create the biggest dent in the memory.
"Four On Six For Wes," is descriptive of another quirky time signature that also captures Montgomery's character as it ascends and descends the fret-board, pulling together a remarkable string of solos from Rhodes and guitar so that it appears the two instruments are creating a new relationship, like the drum and the bass once did with hip-hop. Tebar's guitar is absolutely speech-like throughout his solo, which is quite refreshing. "Zap" is a quieter track by all accounts, while the title track is an unabashedly clever re-write of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." It's a perfect end to the session and is also a refreshingly bright musical recollection and doffing of the proverbial hat to Coltrane's sheets-of-sound, as exemplified by the saxophone icon's original. The Spanish Tebar has found many admirers in the US because he is so chameleon-likea shining example of whatDuke Ellington once called the jazz "Sound of Surprise."
Track Listing
Pink Panther; Four On Six For Wes; Zap; 26-2; Actual Proof; Nefertiti; Essential Passion; Steps.
Personnel
Ximo Tebar
guitarXimo Tebar: guitar; Orrin Evans: Rhodes; Donald Edwards: drums; Alex Blake: acoustic bass; Boris Kozlov: electric bass; Ester Andujar: backing vocals; Ramon Cardo: soprano saxophone; Santi Navalon: keyboards; Stefan Braun: cello; Kiko Berenguer: tenor saxophone; David Pastor: trumpet.
Album information
Title: Steps | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records
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