By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Puzzle
I suspect only true
jazz historians — or fans from my generation — are familiar with Gary
McFarland. Born in Los Angeles in 1933, he came to jazz relatively late, while
in the Army. He tried trumpet, trombone and piano, and settled on vibes in the
mid 1950s. He also was a vocalist, but his skills as a composer, arranger and
producer set him apart.
A musician is known
by the company he keeps, and by those who seek him out. McFarland’s closest
friends included luminaries such as Bill Evans, John Lewis, Bob Brookmeyer,
Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Anita O’Day and Clark Terry. And, like so many of
his peers, McFarland attended the Berklee School Of Music.
Alas, his life and
career were all too short. He and a friend were poisoned at a bar by someone
who poured liquid methadone into their drinks. McFarland suffered a fatal heart
attack and died; he was only 38 years old.
This album, by the
Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble, includes 11 of McFarland’s compositions. The
quintet features another vibes icon, Joe Locke, along with pianist Bruce Barth,
bassist Mike Lawrence, saxophonist Sharel Cassity, and drummer Michael
Benedict.
The track menu was
chosen from different segments of McFarland’s all-too-brief career. The opening
track, “Dragonhead,” is an up-tempo swinger from his time at Berklee. “Why Are
You Blue” and “Blue Hodge” demonstrate his feel for the blues; the latter has
become a jazz standard. “The One I Could Have Loved” and “Summer Love” represent
his softer, balladic, side. Everything clearly demonstrates McFarland’s talent.
“Unknown” usually
means “not missed,” but that isn’t the case here, or with McFarland in general.
Thanks are due all those associated with the creation of this lovely memorial.
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