Bipolar: Killer Beau (Soir)
Track
Killer Beau (Soir)
Group
Bipolar
CD
Euphrates, Me Jane (Two Minds Music 2M-1001)
Musicians:
Jed Feuer (trumpet, flugelhorn),
Stephanie Long (saxophones, flute), Craig Swanson (piano), David Ostrem (bass), James Windsor-Wells (drums). Arranged by Craig Swanson, after themes by Claude Debussy and Benny Golson.
.Recorded: Uptime Studios, New York City, 2008
Rating: 87/100 (learn more)
Cleverly but loosely wrapped in the skin of Debussy’s “Beau Soir”, this entertaining arrangement by pianist Craig Swanson takes on a jaunty beat that re-castes the mood of the piece from romantic to quixotic. With a sound reminiscent of Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano, especially on the break when Swanson solos, this music is infectious. Its deliberate use of the fine interplay of Long’s flute, Ostrem’s bass and Swanson’s piano creates a wonderfully lilting feel in the center of the piece. They deftly dart around the melody in a carefree but deliberate way that is joyful in its approach. When at last Feuer breaks into a familiar refrain from the melody of Benny Golson’s “Killer Joe,” or in this case "Killer Beau," the sly juxtaposition works nicely to the coda. Well played and originally arranged.
Reviewer: Ralph A. Miriello
Tags: contemporary jazz · third stream
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