Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Toru Dodo: Dodo 3

141

Toru Dodo: Dodo 3

By

Sign in to view read count
Toru Dodo: Dodo 3
There seems to be an unshakable perception that jazz is only for old people. Accordingly, many people believe that the only jazz musicians are either old or dead. Every once in a while an artist comes along and contradicts that sort of thinking.

Toru Dodo, a native of Tokyo, Japan, is a composer, pianist and arranger who began playing classical music at the age of four. A 1995 graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he moved to New York and soon found himself on the jazz scene. He has toured the United States, Japan, Canada, West Africa and South America as both a bandleader and a sideman. Dodo has also been a sideman for such jazz artists as Benny Golson and Kenny Garrett..

DoDo 3, his third CD, includes nine originals among its twelve tracks. He is backed by drummer Rodney Green and bassist Joseph Lepore. The songs are punchy without being overpowering. "Bolivia, composed by Cedar Walton, is a song the artist says he never tires of playing. It's easy to see why. Dodo puts his instrument through some pulsating paces. The trio is exceptionally tight as bass, piano and drums are completely in synch on several points of emphasis.

On "NYUCS (New York Underground Car Service), Dodo and his sidemen pay tribute to the city's subway system. One can easily get the feel of the hustle and bustle of the big city. After high-energy movement, Lepore delivers a rather subdued solo with the sound of an underground train in the background.

Dodo pays tribute to his favorite baseball team, 2004 World Series winner the Boston Red Sox, with "Brush Pitch. As he does throughout the album, Green is exceptional on the cymbals, particularly the hi-hat. The trio's perfect timing is evident here.

Although the sound does hold to traditional piano-led trio jazz, this music isn't old. Even the covers are given fresh arrangements by Dodo. It's often said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The individual parts of DoDo 3 are excellent from the opening "R or B to the closing "T. Dog's Theme, making this CD enjoyable throughout.

Track Listing

R or B; Bolivia; Boneless & Skinless; Inside Bubbles; NYUCS (New York Underground Car Service); A Spiral Escalator; Arabesuque; Giacomo Swing; Brush Pitch; My Romance; For Mr. M (Sazae's Theme); T. Dog's Theme.

Personnel

Toru Dodo
piano

Toru Dodo: piano; Joseph Lepore: bass; Rodney Green: drums.

Album information

Title: Dodo 3 | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: JazzCity Productions

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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