Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Don Stiernberg: Unseasonably Cool

Don Stiernberg: Unseasonably Cool

By Jim Santella
August 1, 2001
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Three acoustic string players with percussion make a fine jazz quartet: mandolin, guitar, bass and drums. A rarity in jazz circles, the mandolin has a voice higher than guitar. It's played in the same manner, except for the tremolos that are required to sustain notes. Don Stiernberg caresses a melody with light, fluid movements. The instrument requires that you keep moving. Stiernberg does so with agility, embellishing each melodic fragment to completion. His quartet swings as Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli did; interpreting classic songs and making them come alive. Guest artists join the quartet individually to provide added solo space and dynamic changes in timbre. The horn players contrast with the quartet's gentler approach. Except for several pieces that feature muscular trumpeter Art Davis, Stiernberg carries the lead. His instrument provides a sound not frequently used in jazz; however, this album proves that itshould. Half of the tunes are available as audio samples from the label's web site .

Track Listing

Where or When; More Then You Know; Estat

Personnel

Don Stiernberg

mandolin

Don Stiernberg- mandolin, rhythm guitar; Curt Morrison- guitar; Jim Cox- bass; Kevin Connelley- drums; Art Davis- flugelhorn, trumpet; Ron DeWar, Richie Fudoli- tenor saxophone; Russ Phillips- trombone; Alejo Poveda, Geraldo deOliveira- percussion; Greg "Spots" Studebaker- cornet.

Album information

Title: Unseasonably Cool | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Blue Night Records

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