By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Standards, Old & New
If you love guitar, this
album is a must. This instrument isn’t often presented in a solo jazz format,
as is the case with this release, but the artist rarely is as talented as Mimi
Fox. She’s a New York City native who began her music career at age 9
playing drums, then switched to guitar a year later. The first album she purchased
was John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, a choice that settled her musical
future. She began playing and touring professionally as soon as she
graduated from high school, and ultimately made her home in San Francisco.
She is, in my opinion, the
most eloquent — yet swinging — guitarist playing today. You needn’t take
my assessment as fact; master artists such as Jim Hall and Joe Pass have given
her rave reviews.
This album
features 10 tracks, each a well-known standard. Some might think that’s a
lot of guitar to embrace at one setting, but when the last tune faded out, I
immediately hit “play” and listened to everything again ... and I’ve played it
at least once every day since.
Most of the tunes are done
at ballad tempos, and that’s where Fox’s marvelous style and eloquence are
most evident. But when she swings — “This Land Is Your
Land” is an example — oh, how
she swings!
Fox has played an
uncountable number of concerts, internationally and in the States; she has
worked with dozens of name artists; and she also teaches. All that aside, every
song she performs is done with love and her full attention; she never sounds
bored. Just listen to the wonderful Vernon Duke tune “I Can’t Get Started” or Lennon
and McCartney’s “She’s Leaving Home,” as examples. Every song on this disc demands your
full attention.
Fox has released
nine albums thus far, several of which have featured her in a solo mode. If
she affects you as she has me, you’ll want to track ’em all down and add them
to your library!
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