Oops, looks like my LP alphabet was a bit messed up. I skipped over two records by The Fringe. So, here we go:
The Fringe
The Fringe – This album is the debut of the trio, starring George Garzone, Rich Appleman and Bob Gullotti. Of these, I know Garzone the best, having studied with him for a couple of years. Man, he sounds great. This album is ferocious!
Hey, Open Up! – Another completely incredible outing by this amazing group. Not for the faint of heart, and totally worth checking out. Especially wonderful on this record is an appearance by Ran Blake, who is just wonderful.
Laszlo Gardony
The Secret – I met Laszlo in about 1994, thanks to the avant garde/performance artists Judit Balvanyos, from Hungary. I met her at Berklee and was inspired by the work we were doing, bringing together traditional Hungarian music (see, Musikas) with something from the Ornette Coleman tradition. Laszlo came to one of our gigs and then I began seeing him around Berklee quite a bit. I was really, really lucky to be called to play with him a few times, sort of being in his band for a minute. We also played in Bob Moses’ group together for awhile (where I was really, really lucky). And, I was really, really lucky to have Laszlo (with Moses and George Garzone) perform on my NEC B.M. recital. The Secret is a wonderful exploration of European music and compositional practices, played by a America-centric jazz group, although starring other European musicians (Miroslav Vitous and Ian Froman). In other words, European musicians were playing jazz through a European lens while living in America. It’s great. Laszlo sounds much more like McCoy on this record than he does later on…
The Legend of Tsumi – On this record, Dave Holland and Bob Moses star, bringing yet another vantage point to the music. Tragically, the record jacket says “Bill Moses,” which really is ridiculous. I played many of these tunes, and some of the tunes from The Secret when I was in Laszlo’s band, and no, retrospectively, to see that I had a chance to participate in this continuum is amazing. To think that Vitous handed off to Holland (who handed off to Stomu Takeshi) who handed off to me, is insane. I was way out of my league, and can count dozens of the most awkward moments of my entire music career, all occurring with Laszlo. I hope, one day, to play with him again, and to be less awkward. He’s great. And, by the way, Moses is unbelievable on this album.
Red Garland
Red Garland’s Piano – Ok, man, there is nothing wrong with these Red Garland records. They are positively swinging, and an essential part of your daily jazz vitamin intake. Swingin’. Art Taylor on drums and Paul Chambers on bass, I mean seriously? Killing. And Paul Chambers’ solo on “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love”…? Amazing.
All Kinds of Weather – Another completely swinging record with greatness all around. Chambers’ solo on “Stormy Weather” is superb.
Crossings – This one is with Philly Joe Jones and Ron Carter, so there’s a totally different vibe, which, of course, it being Carter-centric, I love. Mr. Carter is as adventurous and harmonically unbelievable as always.
Enjoy, Rick