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David Basse: Uptown
By Track review of "Parker’s Mood"Basse has one of those confident yet moody voices that totally lacks self-consciousness, something necessary for jazz vocals. His recital on Uptown is a compelling collection of standards and originals tending toward a more conservative (read that: mainstream) vein of vocal performance. However, Basse is not afraid to take on King Pleasure and his brilliant adaptation of Charlie Parker's "Parker's Mood." In doing so, Basse pays special homage to those artists and the art of vocalese, a dying art in competency. Add the presence of Parker scholar Phil Woods and a sublime performance emerges. A perfect union of the blues in jazz, Woods introduces the piece with a chorus of the real thing. Pianist Mike Melvoin and Woods get grand solo space and proceed to show why this "old music" is so important. Basse plays things pretty straight without harnessing the ebullient personality of Pleasure, Parker, the blues, or jazz.
Personnel
David Basse
vocalsDavid Basse: vocals; Phil Woods: alto saxophone; Mike Melvoin: piano; Steve Gilmore: bass; Bill Goodwin: drums.
Album information
Title: Uptown | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Cafe Pacific Records
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David Basse
CD/LP/Track Review
C. Michael Bailey
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Cafe Pacific Records
United States
Mark Winkler
Mark Murphy
Jon Hendricks
Kurt Elling
Andy Bey
Jim Caruso
King Pleasure
Charlie Parker
Phil Woods
Mike Melvoin
Uptown