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Dan Rufolo: Sacred Jazz
ByRufolo's opening six pieces create a sepia, crepuscular noir that is single-note oriented and careful in its collective deliberation. Rufolo uses the ancient "Greensleaves" as a true improvisatory vehicle. Long a staple of "new age" pianism and holiday releases, Rufolo treats the piece more like John Coltrane than Michael Lanz. He never disrespects the melody, rather he changes the left hand into something more anxious and less tranquil than is typically heard.
"My One and Only Love," "I Remember Clifford," and "After the Rain" are simply beautiful. Rufolo finds every blue note there is and he treats them gently. The grief in Benny Golson's melody is exposed nakedly by the pianist, who takes his time developing the piece, pushing it forward with three-note chord voicings that draw from the composition all of the church and spirituals present in the music innately. This quiet recording has quite a bit to say and he finishes it with the perfect coda of "Great is thy Faithfulness" like Chopin had he been well.
Track Listing
Mantis; Little Waltz; Improvisation 3; Lilt; Movement I: Mountains; Movement IV: Fog; Greensleeves; My One and Only; I Remember Clifford; Faced with Sorrow; One Bread One Body; After the Rain; Great is thy Faithfulness.
Personnel
Dan Rufalo: piano.
Album information
Title: Sacred Jazz | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced
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