Christoph Luty’s G pedal reaching out for C Bb and brought to the fore in Johnny Mandel and David Valega composed so many of the originals that allows F before returning to G are the quintessence of sim- Frishberg’s poignant and heartbreaking “You are him to play with such humility and serve the band plicity and taste, perfectly matching Ryan’s approach ere.” e pathos of the song is further enhanced by so well. e latest release from this engaging band is to this evergreen, and her ability to transport us into the graceful presence of Carol Robbins’ harp as sole entitled Awake and should not be missed by any fan her deeply felt musical universe. accompaniment. is is another real gem interpreted of modern jazz. “Bésame Mucho” was written in 1940 by Con- in a most intimate setting. Vinson Valega is the composer of seven of suelo Velásquez, just before her 20th birthday. In an In 1951, Nat King Cole sang Ray Evans and Jay Awake’s twelve tracks. With interesting melodies, interview, she said that when she wrote the song, ‘a Livingston’s “Never Let me Go” in the movie Scar- harmonies and song forms, Valega proves himself to pure product of (her) imagination’, she had never been let Hour. More than half a century later and aer a be just as competent with a pen and paper as with a kissed! Ms. Velásquez died in 2007, at the ripe old age host of other versions –both vocal and instrumental, pair of sticks. e rst of the drummer/leader’s origi- of 84 (hopefully much kissed by ASCAP or BMI!) Jackie Ryan brings the song back refreshed and reju- nals is the title track. is tune begins with a poly- Dmitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington wrote venated, with its essence and depth remaining per- rhythmic vamp, not unlike John Coltrane’s classic “Wild Is e Wind” in 1953, for George Cukor’s fectly intact. Aer a haunting vocalise in guise of in- “Equinox”. ere is a lighter sensibility to Valega’s eponymous movie. is version is very much on par troduction Ms. Ryan instantly draws us deep into her tune, however, which begins with a piano trio intro- with Shirley Horne’s rendition. Just like the late musical soul. As always, her perfect sense of time and duction before the horn melody. e gentle medium singer, Ms. Ryan masters with aplomb the dicult space are omnipresent in this heart rendering classic. swing tune features trumpeter Terell Staord and art of ultra-slow tempi, perfect diction, limpid in- is marvelous set is sadly brought to a close pianist Jon Cowherd in extended solos. “Ed Black- tonation, great sense of dynamics and utter respect via Alec Wilder’s “While We Are Young.” With the well”, another of Valega’s compositions, is a straight for space and time. Special mention should be made sole accompaniment of Larry Koonse on guitar, the eighth note tune with a Latin-esque vibe. e mel- yet again of Tamir Hendelman’s pianism. Instead singer carries home with overwhelming sincerity the ody is played in unison by Staord and tenorist Chris of merely ‘backing’ the artist, he seems to be co-in- composer’s message that ‘every day is Spring while Bacas. Valega steps to the front with some tasty drum terpreting the song — almost duet fashion, thereby we’re young’ and ‘time is too dear to lose and too breaks, while Bacas and altoist Anton Denner trade enhancing its pathos and poignancy. With Je Ham- sweet to last’. solos. Cowherd is also featured. ilton’s discrete support, this piece is nearly seven Heed that wise advice! Don’t waste any time! One of the most well arranged of Valega’s origi- minutes of story-telling magic. Rush to buy this CD! Apart from showcasing the nals is “Stacked Sienna”. e ballad features muted Showing her apparent penchant for songs drawn innite talents of the very beautiful Ms. Ryan, this trumpet during a regal introduction, followed by a out of movie scores, Ryan segues into “Moonlight”, album is masterfully produced; the sound quality is beautiful melodic rendition by Cowherd and Denner. from the remake of the movie Sabrina. Marilyn and superb, and the packaging and art work are rst class. is time Denner plays ute. Also displaying Vale- Alan Bergman’s lyrics and John Williams’s music are ‘Who could ask for anything more’? ...except for an- ga’s compositional skills is a suite of songs which are uncannily reminiscent of the prolic collaboration other album. Very soon please! spaced sporadically throughout the tracks. Entitled of the two lyricists with Michel Legrand. e song “is is What Democracy Sounds Like”, the theme is given a lilting bossa-nova treatment, attesting to is split into three sections. is is a guttural, earthy the singer’s musical eclecticism. In this piece which piece, which features percussion mixed with a vari- she co-arranged, Ms. Ryan succeeds in touching the ety of woodwinds, which oen quote patriotic songs listener’s heart and soul because she is so credible in in their interactive improvisations. e nal tune the way she ‘sing-tells’ the words. ey come across as composed by Valega is the funky “e Trend is Your deeply felt; reinforcing the feeling and gravitas they Friend”, with an infectious groove and a slick melody. beckon — contrary to most of today’s performers In addition to providing wonderful melodic who sing the notes but not the words. is brings to renditions, accompaniments and playing Valega’s mind Lester Young, who claimed he never played a VINSON VALEGA songs with taste and style, the members of the Vin- tune before learning the lyrics! son Valega Group also contribute several originals Reverting to her exuberant sense of swing, Ms. AWAKE — Consilience Productions, www.cslpro- to Awake. From Anton Denner comes the opening Ryan regales us with her own sexy version of Cy Cole- ductions.com. Lu menschen; Awake; Fog; is is track, “Lumenschen”, a gentle tune with a bossa- man and Carolyn Leigh’s “e Best Is Yet to Come”. What Democracy Sounds Like (Part I); Undertow; nova avored groove. Denner, Staord and Cow- With Tamir Hendelman at the helm, the trio accom- Ed Blackwell; is is What Democracy Sounds Like herd are all featured in improvisations. Bassist Josh paniment sounds like a small orchestra! e same (Part II); Stacked Sienna; Sputnik; is is What De- Ginsburg contributes the funky “Undertow”, featur- holds true of “I Just Found Out About Love”, with mocracy Sounds Like (Part III); e Trend is Your ing Staord who plays wonderfully with the mute. the rhythm section and Holloway’s tenor soaring and Friend; Take Time For Loe. Finally, Chris Bacas adds “Sputnik”, a medium-up cooking, while musical phrases y between the solo- PERSONNEL: Vinson Valega, drums; Terell Staf- swing tune on which the band stretches out and ists with gusto and exuberance. ford, trumpet; Anton Denner, alto saxophone, ute, swings hard. e wonderful singer’s musicianship is bril- piccolo; Chris Bacas, tenor and soprano saxophone, Vinson Valega is obviously much more than a liantly featured in “You and the Night and the Mu- clarinet; Jon Cowherd, piano; Josh Ginsburg, bass. drummer. He is a composer, able to invent interest- sic”, which is treated as a slow and languid ballad ing and engaging melodies and harmonies which until the rhythm section steps in, doubles the tempo By Dave Miele provide the perfect vehicle for extended improvisa- and sparks start ying. Ms. Ryan’s sultry voice and tions. He is a band leader with the considerable skills Red Holloway’s hot and gritty saxophone solo bring e Vinson Valega Group is a ne modern jazz to know how to pick the musicians that will make the song back home in the original slow tempo with ensemble with a solid assemblage of composers/per- his music as eective as possible. Of course, Valega Holloway’s horn shadowing the singer until the very formers. Each member of the group has something drives this band hard from behind his drums. Valega last word! unique to contribute and the result is a tight band has found the right musicians and put the music be- e real cooker of the album is undoubtedly that plays well-craed original music with a great fore the technical feats many drummers love to play “I Know that You Know,” with each member of the degree of interactive excitement. Valega is a spec- (and yes I admit it, we love to listen to them too). In group being given a chance to shine, while Ms. Ryan tacular drummer, delivering just what each track so doing, he has created a modern jazz release that is stokes the re. needs without over-powering or taking center stage most certainly not just for drummers. Awake is most e artist’s mesmerizing contralto voice is at the expense of musicality. Perhaps it’s the fact that denitely worth a listen. 136 October 2007 • Jazz ImprovNY® • www.jazzimprov.com To Advertise CALL: 212.889.0853.