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Peppe Merolla: Stick with Me
ByMerolla moved to the U.S. because he wanted to live where jazz was born. Now residing in the New York area, the drummerwho states "I want to play this music with the best players in the world"makes good on this goal by surrounding himself with some of the Big Apple's finest musicians.
The program begins with the drummer's tribute to his native "Naples," a dicey percussive Afro-Cuban number that ends up in straight jazz territory. Tenor saxophonist John Farnsworth tees off on the following "Ferris Wheel," peppered with voices from the other hornstrombonist extraordinaire Steve Turre and trumpeter Jim Rotondialong with assertive bass lines and Merolla's rumbling climax. The bop sounds soften up a bit on the gentle "Junior," as Turré starts off the solos, followed by another Farnsworth mix, Mike LeDonne on electric piano and bassist Lee Smith's graceful bow. The other mellow number here is the Rotondi-arranged Willie Nelson ballad, "Crazy," led by warm tenor phrasings, Rotondi's muted horn work and sensitive play from the rest of the band.
The bop-ish original "A Cry For Understanding" is the album's centerpiecefeaturing brisk work from the horns, while Merolla punctuates the number with his powerful stick work and crashing cymbals. But the highlight of this hard-bop set is the sizzling "Mozzin,'" on fire from the introduction, and smoking all the way through to the end, capturing several of Merolla's muscular solos.
Clearly an album of exceptional quality and an impressive debut,Stick with Me showcases a powerful performance from Merolla and marks an unforgettable entrance into the world of recorded music sure to stick with those that appreciate the perky nature of hard-bop jazz.
Track Listing
Naples; Ferris Wheel; Junior; Marbella; A Cry for Understanding; Crazy; Mozzin'; Princess of the Mountain; One for Bud.
Personnel
Peppe Merolla
drumsPeppe Merolla: drums, percussion; Steve Turré: trombone, shells; Jim Rotondi: trumpet, flugelhorn; John Farnsworth: tenor saxophone; Mike LeDonne: piano; Lee Smith: bass.
Album information
Title: Stick With Me | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Self Produced
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