In the 21st century, High
Note Records has distinguished itself as a purveyor of
exceptionally high-quality offerings by seasoned jazz veterans still
playing at the top of their game. This date by Kenny Burrell, Live at
Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (a club within the Lincoln Center) is no
exception. It was cut on September 9, 2008 during his one-week stand at
the venue -- his first extended engagement in the Apple since leaving it
for California to head UCLA's jazz program a decade ago. Burrell is
accompanied by his regular drummer (and session ace) Clayton
Cameron, brilliant pianist Benny
Green, bassist Peter
Washington, and 24-year-old newcomer Tivon
Pennicott on tenor saxophone and flute. While this marks Burrell's
debut for High
Note, it is the first ever recorded appearance for Pennicott.
The band gets right to work on an extended reading of Chano
Pozo's "Tin Tin Deo." Burrell introduces it gently, but within a
minute, Washington
enters and then Cameron.
The full band enters at two minutes and the gorgeous Latin groove
begins to assert itself in waves beginning with Pennicott's
swinging tenor solo. Burrell works all of his harmonic magic on the
tune, stretching its rhythmic and lyric possibilities but keeping that
loping groove in the center. Another standout is the
burning-down-the-house read of Kenny
Dorham's "Blue Bossa," with wonderfully inventive work by Cameron
and Burrell knotting up his own solo in a multi-faceted chord workout. Green
is always in the pocket, pushing Washington
and Cameron;
and though he plays a backing role, Pennicott's
roiling tenor solo is impressive. Washington
gets a real chance to shine on Burrell's famous "Bass Face." He not
only drives the tune but his solo is rich and multidimensional. (The
tune was written as a showcase for Ray
Brown.) There are three tributes to Duke
Ellington here: the first a strident, rhythmically adventurous take
on Billy
Strayhorn's "Raincheck," a deeply intuitive, supremely lyric
version of "In a Sentimental Mood," and Burrell's solo guitar ballad "Be
Yourself." The set closes with a fingerpopping "Bag's Groove." Despite
the band's introduction near the beginning, the call-and-response
between Pennicott
and Burrell, with Cameron's
gradually layer-building swing is a fantastic send-off. This is
trademark Kenny Burrell: creative, disciplined, and full of melodic
blues and grooves. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kifixzedldae
| 
