By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Revolving
Seattle-born Anne Drummond’s
first instrument wasn’t a flute. It was a recorder: a first for many children
because of the relative ease with which simple melodies can be played.
Introduced in medieval times, the instrument remains quite popular
today. As often is the case, the piano followed; that was her primary
instrument when she entered New York’s Manhattan School of Music at age 18. She
also had replaced the recorder with a flute by that time, and played it extensively;
even so, she earned her degree on the piano keyboard.
Drummond was raised in a
musical family. An aunt exposed the budding musician to modern jazz, using her
own collection. Interestingly, Drummond attended the same high school as
Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix, and her piano teacher at the Manhattan School
was Kenny Barron. After hearing her play the flute, Barron invited her to join
his band. She did so.
In addition to being a
stellar artist on two instruments, Drummond teaches and composes; she wrote all
but three of the songs on this release. She cuts a wide swath in the music
field, from penning commercial jingles, to joining classical groups and
orchestras. She’s featured here on both piano and flutes (soprano and
alto).
Seven artists joined her:
guitarist Vic Juris, additional pianists Benny Green and David Chesky, cellist
Dave Eggar, bassist Brandi Disterheft, and drummers Kassar Overall and Keita
Ogawa. The menu ranges from spritely up-tempo tunes to balladic/mood
selections, everything done with a smooth jazz feel.
You’ll want to listen
time and again to this project by master musicians. Don’t miss it.
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