Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - There are lots of great jazz pianists around these days, but Arbors Jazz offers one of the very best showcased in an album that should please piano devotees everywhere. "An Intimate Evening with Dave McKenna" is the tenth release in the Arbors Piano Series and it must rank at the top for sheer entertainment value.

McKenna believes in the power of the melody, and he demonstrates that sticking close to the melody can produce results that will cause all admirers of the well-played piano to smile broadly.

He's been around for a while. Born in Rhode Island in 1930, McKenna came from a musical family. His father was a drummer while his mother played piano. At 19 he worked with the Charlie Ventura Band, which included Ed Shaughnessy, Conte Candoli, Al Cohn and Red Mitchell. Later he worked with such jazz giants as Bobby Hackett, Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Buddy Rich and Al Cohn.

McKenna makes the solo piano seem the natural choice. In his outstanding selections for this album, he tackles some of the best tunes of the century, including "Fidgety Feet," "Tea for Two" and "It's the Last Dance." There also are three medleys that should delight anyone who can appreciate a piano played well with a strong belief in melody. McKenna can play with such sincerity and warmth that his work should please the most fastidious listener. 

Here's an artist in his seventh decade who performs with all the ability provided by a lifetime in music and with the excitement of an artist at home with his instrument. You can't find much better than this.

Goldings Grows On You

I confess that Larry Goldings is a new name to me, but his latest and third album made me pay attention. Goldings plays a modified C2 Hammond organ, which has a sound slightly different than the familiar C3 and may take some ear adjustments to get acquainted.

But a couple of listenings to "Sweet Science" (Palmetto Records) should convince you that this is a jazzman worth hearing. Performing with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart, Goldings plays jazz with a leaning toward the modern sound, while showing respect for what has transpired in the past. Eight of the 10 tracks are originals, mostly by Goldings. The standards, "This Guy's In Love With You" and "Spring Is Here" receive interesting arraignments.

Take a listen. Goldings is good.

Funkadelic, Anyone?

I have all sorts of reservations about most of today's funk music, but was delighted to take a journey to the past and listen to four wonderful albums by George Clinton's magnificent Funkadelic.

Priority Records, a part of the Fantasy lineup of labels, has just brought out excellent new versions of "Hardcore Jollies" (1976), "One Nation Under a Groove" (1978), "Uncle Jam Wants You" (1979) and "The Electric Spanking War Babies (1981).

Clinton and company sound just as fresh and danceable as they did all those years ago. If you are too young to remember the original funkiest one, this quartet of sizzlers should keep the foot moving for a long while.

Bassist Allison Pipes Well

Ben Allison may be a new name to you, but all the evidence indicates that the bassist will be making an impact for years into the future.

Allison's new album, "Peace Pipe," (Palmetto Records) shows the leader at the top of his form, and that's pretty high praise. In the past decade, Allison has made an impressive impact on the New York jazz scene. It's evident that he's a leader and a musician who never thinks into the past. He looks to be an innovator and with this album, he demonstrates that he's on the right path.

His sidemen this time out include Mamadou Diabate, the African kora master from Mali. The opening track, "Third Rail," puts Allison, Diabate and guest artist Tomas Ulrich, on cello, in a combination that strikes sparks and creates excitement.

The band includes Michael Blake on tenor and soprano sax and bass clarinet, Frank Kimbrough ion piano, prepared piano and Wurlitzer, along with Michael Sarin on drums and percussion. The combination is potent and well prepared for the paths Allison wants to travel. In nearly 51 minutes of challenging music, Ben Allison and friends demonstrate that, as always, jazz is entirely open to important new frontiers. Listen and see.

Great Reissues From Puente Vaults

One of the great entertainers ever on stage was Tito Puente, the Latin master of timbales whose various jazz/Latin aggregations over the decades produced some of the greatest music guaranteed to keep foot tapping as a desired accompaniment. In fact, it was downright impossible to not want to jump onto a dance floor, even if you ­ like me ­ couldn't dance a lick.

I had the great fortune to see Puente in person just a single time, at the annual Jazz Festival staged every summer in downtown Columbus. He put on a stupendous performance though he was virtually an unknown quantity to most of the thousands in the audience on that hot and humid evening.

There are two new albums bearing the imprint of Tito Puente. One, "Tito Puente Live at the Playboy Jazz Festival" (Playboy Records) comes from the 1994 Playboy event and was originally broadcast on radio. Puente assembled a fine crew of musicians, including Dave Valentin on flute and the incomparable special guest, congas player supreme Mongo Santamaria. As usual the music mixes Latin tunes with familiar modern jazz favorites. Special sounds include "Flight to Jordan" and "Afro Blue."

Also excellent are two CDs, one from 1991 and the other from the following year. At a special price, the so-called "two-fer" gives the buyer twice as much music for the price of one album. Such a deal!

The package is called "Hot Timbales!" (Concord Records) and includes the discs, "Out of This World" and "Mambo of the Times." Calling this pair "classics" is no hyperbole. Once again, Puente's programs include Latin spectaculars along with some familiar jazz classics, including "In Walked Bud" and "Along Came Betty." And you haven't heard "Sweet Georgia Brown" until your ears meet up with Puente's spectacular version.

Bob Powers always is interested in hearing from record distributors who deal in jazz, rock, folk, and anything that's good. For instructions on getting your album reviewed, contact him at rpow123@charter.net.

---

+++ The PREVIOUS POWERSSOUND +++ THE NEXT POWERSSOUND +++

---

---

MY GLASS HOUSE | THE PREVIOUS EVENT | COMING ATTRACTIONS | THE WRITERS/GUIDELINES |

---

© 2002, GENERATOR 21. E-mail your comments. Send your kudos, brickbats and suggestions to Our Editor.