Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Steve Herberman: Thought Lines

111

Steve Herberman: Thought Lines

By

Sign in to view read count
Steve Herberman: Thought Lines
Guitarist Steve Herberman is someone to watch --- or listen to, rather. His guitar riffs have a smooth, comforting feel that surpasses the increasing monotony of smooth-jazz radio outlets. In Thought Lines , an often very fine album, Herberman’s guitar conjures up a hearty helping of jazz standards. Everyone from Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn and The Duke himself are agreeably reincarnated.

From a solid, smooth-meets-bounce opener, “I Wish I Knew” where Herberman’s guitar meshes nicely with Bruce Swaim’s tenor sax, to a near note-for-note remaking of Monk’s “Criss Cross,” Herberman and his backup trio (Swain’s sax, Victor Dvoskin’s bass, Dominic Smith’s drums) are able to recreate classic tunes but keep them lively, too. It’s the rare album that’s respectful but not too so, allowing for some room to belt out on their own and return to the material when appropriate. At times, the other players are so prominently featured it’s impossible to consider them as the jazz help: they, too, show their skill, and on such tracks as a remaking of Stayhorn and Ellington’s “Isfahan,” indeed Swain’s sax is the star.

Credit Herberman for knowing when to be the key player but also when to step back and let his cats step forward; they create a holistic balance that’s welcome indeed. Oddly, one of the most innovative numbers is yet another version of what is oft-called the most famous romantic film ballad of our time, David Raksin’s “Laura” (from the magnificent 1944 Otto Preminger noir). Made famous later by Charlie Parker, the piece almost always calls for a sax or a trumpet to tell its bittersweet tale, but Herberman brings his guitar and lends it a new warmth.

Not all of the album measures up so strongly, part of the problem when working from established classics: respect can be a dangerous thing when artistic innovation is considered. You want, as a listener, for the album to go even further, to reach out in more directions, as Herberman does in his own original, “Scurryin’.” Yet the album remains, as its lead player, worth the investment.

Track Listing

1. I Wish I Knew 7.05 2. Thought Lines 8.21 3. Nobody Else But Me 4.31 4. A Smooth One 8.03 5. Criss Cross 4.26 6. Laura 5.40 7. Scurryin' 3.57 8. Scooter's Blues 6.36 9. Jeannine 6.53 10. Extended Cruise 7.26 11. Isfahan 4.34

Personnel

Steve Herberman
guitar, electric

Steve Herberman -- guitar Bruce Swaim -- tenor sax Victor Dvoskin -- bass Dominic Smith -- drums

Album information

Title: Thought Lines | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Reach Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.