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Tom Harrell: Wise Children
While Harrell and his guests are in top form, the program seems designed to discourage heightened emotion. Between the composer’s mellow ballads with strings and his lackluster band arrangements, the leader’s 20th album as leader takes a different path than his more successful ventures. The only flicker of fiery emotion comes through “Heavens,” where flute and flugelhorn play slightly out of tune in a “Desafinado” kind of affair. Davis’ lyrical piano phrases assist in interpreting the piece’s intended spirit of soaring originality, but the counterpoint is put in a holding pattern for so long that it begins to tire. Several funk pieces invite the magnetism of foot-tapping and shoulder- shaking rhythms, but they wander in circles without reaching a conclusion.
Key soloists on the session give the program a considerable lift. Gil Goldstein and Antoine Silverman bring a bright sheen to “Paz.” Saxophonists Myron Walden and Jimmy Greene strut around several high points. Marvin Sewell swings “See You at Seven” with a veteran’s blues wisdom. Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves and Jane Monheit share sadder moments with the trumpeter. Claudia Acuña’s interpretation of “Radiant Moon” carries brighter overtones, which, however, are still somewhat restrained. Harrell’s title track carries with it a processional majesty with funereal direction. Timeless in its expressed capacity for intuitive imagery, the piece summarizes this album as a journey, void of adventure and filled with reflective musings.
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Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.
Track Listing
1. Paz (5:57) 2. Straight to My Heart [with Dianne Reeves] (5:06) 3. Kalimba (9:32) 4. Radiant Moon [with Claudia Acu
Personnel
Tom Harrell
trumpetGil Goldstein
Album information
Title: Wise Children | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: BMG
About Tom Harrell
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