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Harvie S, Roni Ben-Hur with Sylvia Cuenca: Wondering
ByHarvie and Ben-Hur have recorded once before, on 2018's Introspection (Jazzheads), so it was a natural choice to do a follow-up, this time with Cuenca taking over the drum duties from Tim Horner. The three possess a sympathetic rapport which is quite compelling, particularly on the Latin-inflected tracks such as Raul de Souza's "A Vontade Mesmo," a spirited samba which brings out especially fleet playing from both the bassist and the guitarist, and Antonio Carlos Jobim's gorgeous "Ligia," a showcase for Ben-Hur's mastery of the bossa nova form. The straight-ahead jazz cuts are quite effective too, with a memorable rendition of the Miles Davis & Gil Evans classic "Boplicity" and a hard-swinging take on Bobby Hutcherson's "For Duke P." Herbie Nichols' "Some Wandering Bushmen" has a sinuous appeal thanks to Cuenca's crisp work on the toms (not to mention her pulsating solo), and Kenny Wheeler's "The Forks" gives Harvie the chance to demonstrate his lyricism with a solo which expertly reflects the composer's trademark melodicism.
The bassist and drummer each get a composition of their own. "Ray" is a tribute to Ray Brown, and Harvie's in-the-pocket solo pays homage to his forebear, while Ben-Hur's "What Was" stays in a Latin mode once again to highlight the guitarist's sensitivity with a winsome melody. Through it all, Cuenca is the force which holds the group together, her veteran instincts allowing her to drive the music forward with subtlety and grace. She is given her due in the production of the album as well, nicely occupying the right channel alongside the bassist in the center and the guitarist in the left, allowing for a full appreciation of the egalitarian temperament of this excellent trio.
Track Listing
Boplicity; For Duke P; Ligia; A Vontade Mesmo; The Gentle Art of Love; Ray; Some Wandering Bushmen; The Forks; What Was; Menage Blue.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Wondering | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Dot Time Records
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About Harvie S
Instrument: Bass, acoustic
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