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Cedar Walton: Voices Deep Within
ByWalton, a prolific and prodigious composer of memorable melodies, an arranger of uncommon originality and a pianist with an immediately identifiable sound and style, is at his best here. He divides the date between slightly altered versions of his working trio (with Buster Williams sitting in for regular bassist David Williams and Willie Jones III in the drum chair previously occupied by Kenny Washington - Vocals, Lewis Nash and Joe Farnsworth, since the death of longtime Walton colleague Billy Higgins) and quartet (with Vincent Herring eschewing his customary alto saxophone exclusively to play tenor). The saxophonist's dark bittersweet sound is heard to good effect on four tracks, beginning with the opening title piece, a brightly swinging Walton original that recalls his Eastern Rebellion units featuring George Coleman or Bob Berg.
The trio tracks, relaxed readings of Eubie Blake's "Memories Of You" and the leader's own "Dear Ruth," as well as romantic renderings of "Over The Rainbow" and "Naima," showcase Williams' lyrical bass and Jones' remarkably mature work with brushes, along with Walton's uncanny ability to put new twists on familiar material. The album's showpiece is a reworking of his earlier arrangement of "Another Star"an exciting tour de force that shines a bright light on the pianist's harmonic, melodic and rhythmic genius, with an engaging introductory vamp and countermelody that makes the Stevie Wonder classic his own. Herring's tenor swings melodically on this and two more quartet piecesthe leader's "Something in Common" and Sonny Rollins' "No Moe"complementing the trio's superb sound nicely.
Track Listing
Voices Deep Within; Memories of You; Another Star; Dear Ruth; Something in Common; Over the Rainbow; Naima; No Moe.
Personnel
Cedar Walton
pianoCedar Walton: piano; Vincent Herring: tenor saxophone; Buster Williams: bass; Willie Jones III: drums.
Album information
Title: Voices Deep Within | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: HighNote Records