By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Moraga
If one were to cite the
instruments least likely to be utilized in jazz, the harp would be near the
top. Well, fasten your seat belts: Carol Robbins is a harpist, composer
and arranger, and Moraga,
her newest album to date, is proof that this ethereal “horn‚” is, in her hands,
fully capable of producing beautiful, swinging music.
As a child, Robbins began as
a pianist; she switched to the harp at age 10. She may not be well known
to the general public, but her expertise has made her a staple among individuals
famous in their own worlds: She has performed for presidents and
celebrities, been featured in films and on television, and has been nominated
for Grammy Awards. She maintains a busy concert schedule and is highly
regarded in the music world; she has no problem acquiring top level musicians with
whom to perform.
That’s the case with this
release. The quintet supporting her features Billy Childs (piano), Gary Meek (sax
and clarinet), Larry Koonse (guitar), Darek Oles (bass) and Gary Novak (drums). Regular
readers know that I consider Koonse and Oles to be among the top artists in the
jazz world, and Robbins’ association with Childs goes back years.
Robbins composed six of these
nine tunes. Childs contributed “Hope in the Face of
Despair,” while “Caminhos Cruzados” comes from Antonia
Carlos Jobim. Cole Porter’s “Every Time We Say Goodbye” is the lone standard.
All but one of these tunes are
done at balladic tempos, some with a subtle Latin feel; the exception is “Straight Away,” a burner
that gives each performer a chance to stretch out with some dazzling solo work.
This album is
gorgeous in every respect. That descriptor isn’t often used when referencing
jazz, but it’s apt for this release and these artists.
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