By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Blue Skylight
Trumpeter
Mark Masters is an accomplished musician in his own right, but is better known
as a producer/arranger of concerts and recordings that honor artists who are —
or have been — jazz icons. The subjects of this release are Charles Mingus and
Gerry Mulligan. Both were outstanding musicians — Mingus on bass, Mulligan on
baritone sax — but this release features their accomplishments as composers and
arrangers.
The
album’s 11 tunes aren’t familiar jazz classics, but instead those that Masters
considers best illustrate their skills as composers. Five are from Mingus, six
from Mulligan.
Masters’
ensemble colleagues are Gene Cipriano, Gary Foster, Jerry Pinter and Adam
Schroeder (reeds); Les Benedict and Ron Stout (brass); and a rhythm section of
Ed Czach (piano), Putter Smith (bass) and Kendall Kay (drums). All have played
with a veritable Who’s Who in jazz, and it’s interesting to note that Masters
and many of these guys can be considered senior citizens. And
oh my, they do play and swing!
Although
Mingus and Mulligan are best remembered for their up-tempo tunes, half of this
album’s charts are done as ballads: “So Long, Eric,” “Wallflower,” “Strayhorn 2”
and Ellington’s “Sound of Love” are beautiful examples. The artistry of these musicians
shines on such tracks; their experience and “feelings” produce truly beautiful
solo passages throughout.
Everybody
clearly is enjoying the gig, and having a lot of fun; listeners will feel the
same.
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