Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Astrid Cowan: Swing Team

161

Astrid Cowan: Swing Team

By

Sign in to view read count
Astrid Cowan: Swing Team
What we know for certain is that Astrid Cowan was born in Detroit, studied piano for some time in San Francisco, now lives in the Los Angeles area, and is an accomplished mainstream player whose virile two–handed technique and propensity to swing at any speed are remindful of McCoy Tyner, Gene Harris and other modernists from Monty Alexander to James Williams. We know too that Cowan is a perceptive writer, as she shows with her three sparkling compositions on Swing Team — “Thursday Night at Pasquales,” “Salida del Sol” and “Silver’s Sox.” The rest of the material on Cowan’s admirable debut album is high–grade as well with three standards (“I’ve Got the World on a String,” “I Love You,” “How Deep Is the Ocean”) rubbing shoulders with Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce” and Thad Jones’s tenderhearted ballad, “A Child Is Born.” Cowan’s “swing team” is reliable but not overbearing, which is exactly what any pianist needs and wants. Simon, who has a couple of albums under his belt as leader, provides an especially broad shoulder on which to lean, laying down the rhythmic pulse with metronomic efficiency. Rusch, who is present on all but “Pasquales” and the bossa “Salida del Sol,” is a trustworthy if derivative soloist, while Berman’s mellow guitar adds weight and color to the group dynamic. Cowan, meanwhile, proves convincingly that she is a first–rate Jazz pianist; her main roadblocks on the road to success are the many other exemplary keyboardists, most of whom are better known than she, in what seems to be an ever–widening circle. At least her talents are now a matter of “record,” so perhaps fortune may smile on her. We can hope so, anyway.

Track listing: Thursday Night at Pasquales; I’ve Got the World on a String; Salida del Sol; Billie’s Bounce; A Child Is Born; Silver’s Sox; I Love You; How Deep Is the Ocean (59:06).

Personnel

Astrid Cowan, piano; Jerry Rusch, trumpet, flugelhorn; Ron Berman, guitar; Richard Simon, bass; Chris Wabich, drums.

Contact: Astron Records, P.O. Box 4985, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Album information

Title: Swing Team | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Astron Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.