By Ric Bang
Buy CD: The L.A. Sessions
Bebop fans will enjoy this
album. It’s not the frenetic kind of bop that dazzled the jazz world back in
the day; it’s more “polite” ... but it swings just as much.
Sherman began his career as
a drummer, switched to piano and then the vibraphone. He’s also a prolific
composer. Although jazz is his first love, he has extensive experience
with classical orchestras and is on a first-call basis with many name
vocalists.
Pianist/arranger/composer
Bill Cunliffe switches gears and plays B3 Hammond organ here. Early in his
career, he toured with Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra and, after moving to the
West Coast, worked with icons such as Ray Brown. Cunliffe has written
scores for films, TV and other orchestras, including his own magnificent big band.
Guitarist John Chiodini is
world-famous. He was a member of the Boston Pops Orchestra, under Arthur
Fiedler, in the 1960s and ’70s. After moving to Los Angeles, Chiodini toured,
wrote and recorded with both jazz groups and name vocalists such as Peggy Lee,
Tony Bennett and Shirley Horne.
Drummer Charles Ruggiero was
a member of the New York City jazz scene for several years; he landed a gig
with Chuck Mangione, toured with Marilyn Manson and is an in-demand sideman.
It’s clear that this group
enjoyed revisiting the bebop era. Many well-known bop standards are
included here: Dizzy Gillespie’s “Woody ’n You,” Milt Jackson’s “Bag’s Groove,” Charlie Parker’s “Quasimodo,” Benny Golson’s “Whisper Not” and
others. Sherman also contributes an
original (“Far Away”),
and the group puts a new polish on Burke & Van Heusen’s “It Could Happen to You.”
This is a neat
album. It’ll bring back a lot of memories and demonstrate that what was
exciting years ago, still can get your pulse pounding today.
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