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

100

Don Stiernberg: Unseasonably Cool

By

Sign in to view read count
Don Stiernberg: Unseasonably Cool
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

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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