Cedar Walton

[DrJ]

I'm in a recommending mood today, so here's one more before getting to work...

This is quite a gem that took some time to work its magic - on first few listens last year when I picked it up, it didn't grab me and I put it aside until about a week ago. I may even have posted on being a little disappointed back then. Time to set the record straight!

Fabulously well recorded, with engineering by Jim Anderson, Walton is captured with a sextet playing some compositions that gradually work their way into your head and won't let go once they're there. "Martha's Prize" ought to become a jazz standard for sure, if anyone ever got a chance to hear it that is.

Vincent Herring, Ralph Moore, and Roy Hargrove all take some fine solos - some of the most thoughtful playing on record by Hargrove in a long time. Christian McBride is his usually rock solid self, and Walton plays those patented solos that on first few listens sound like nothing special but then start to hit you heavy in their perfection.

But second prize on this date goes to drummer Victor Lewis...I don't think I ever realized what a powerful, guiding influence Lewis was on the recordings with Bobby Watson and Horizon until hearing him here, but the parallels in how his contributions shape the overall group sound are pretty remarkable. He brings a quality to the music that can only be described as "dancing" - it's a combination of his time feel and the way he utilizes the traps, with a really distinctive way of accenting certain beats and incorporating cymbals. Whatever the techical issues, it's a real joy to listen to and gives the groove a completely different feel - much lighter, almost like tap dancing - than it would have had with anyone else on the drummer's throne.

So worth more than a few listens.

Does anyone have his other Astor Place recording, ROOTS? Has a very different configuration, but if the sound and musical quality are anything close to THE COMPOSER, it's one I'll track down immediately.

[Jim Dye]

I'll second this recommendation! The compositions on this CD really stick with you after repeated listenings. 'Martha's Prize' is my favorite tune on the disc as well Dr. J.

[relyles]

I picked this one up when it was first released years ago and was immediately impressed. Very interesting compositions and solid playing by the entire band.

[jazzbo]

I'm behind this one too. And more props for Victor Lewis, who is a wonderful player in every way.

[Dan Gould]

Roots is another terrific effort. The only difference is the band covers some of his better known compositions, while Composer is more new stuff, I think. Similar group of younger lions too.

Funny thing you mention Martha's Prize-I am awaiting receipt of an audience recording of a concert that has a number of tunes from the Astor Place albums, but instead of Hargrove, its Art Farmer on trumpet. And Victor Lewis was on drums too. Really ought to be a keeper!

Edited April 2, 2004 by Dan Gould

[relyles]

Funny thing you mention Martha's Prize-I am awaiting receipt of an audience recording of a concert that has a number of tunes from the Astor Place albums, but instead of Hargrove, its Art Farmer on trumpet. And Victor Lewis was on drums too. Really ought to be a keeper!

If it is the one from the Blue Note in June of 1996 I have it and can confirm that its a keeper.

[Dan Gould]

Yeah, that's the one-but my source says that a small part of the second set is missing. Do you have the same recording or is yours complete?

[relyles]

I think we have the same source in Taiwan.

[JSngry]

Very nice compositions on this one. Cedar's body of work as a composer is pretty significant when you stop and sort it all out.

[mikeweil]

A very nice album, I wrote a feature and concert review on him as it was just newly released. Still I think it's a little too controlled - Eastern Rebellion was a much looser band, live and on record, and groovier. Well, that's probably due to the difference between a working band and a studio group.

Astor Place was a nice label - someone should re-release all their CDs.

[garthsj]

..... As Art Farmer's greatest living fan (self-designated) I have always been an admirer of Cedar Walton, who was Art's pianist of choice on so many great albums. Somehow I had missed this one when it was first released, so growing in confidence at the discriminating taste shown on this list, I went searching for this one. I found a "new" used copy on Amazon for $8.95 .. and purchased a copy of "ROOTS" as well.

BTW Mike, if you search for "Astor Place Records" on Amazon, you come up with 12 albums. I noticed that the Conrad Herwig album, THE LATIN SIDE OF JOHN COLTRANE was selling for over $55 USED!!

I can highly recommend the three TRIO volumes by Walton on the Red Label, which used to be available at a very good price on the Cybermusic (Allegro cut out) site.

Thanks for the recommendation Dr. J!

Edited April 2, 2004 by garthsj

[Harold_Z]

Funny that this thread should pop up at this time ! I've had COMPOSER since it came out, but hadn't listened to it for years until last Saturday. I heard Groove Passage on the car radio and really enjoyed it. I pulled the cd out as soon as I got home and I've listened and enjoyed it several times since. Nice playing by all concerned. Roy Hargrove sounds real nice in his Lee/Brownie bag and I'm more impressed by Vincent Herring every time I hear him.

[relyles]

..... As Art Farmer's greatest living fan (self-designated) I have always been an admirer of Cedar Walton, who was Art's pianist of choice on so many great albums. Somehow I had missed this one when it was first released

Just for clarification, Farmer does not appear on the Astor Place release. The reference to Art Farmer was in relation to an unofficial recording of a live Cedar Walton performance that circulates among traders.

[garthsj]

.....  As Art Farmer's greatest living fan (self-designated) I have always been an admirer of Cedar Walton, who was Art's pianist of choice on so many great albums. Somehow I had missed this one when it was first released

Just for clarification, Farmer does not appear on the Astor Place release. The reference to Art Farmer was in relation to an unofficial recording of a live Cedar Walton performance that circulates among traders.

Thanks for the clarification .. but I was well aware that Farmer is not on this album .. too bad .. although Hargrove is a fine musician. Farmer always brought a sense of inventive, melodic improvisation to almost every session he played on. Somehow he seemed to calm the other musicians, and challenge them to make their solos really say something. Listen particularly to the Horace Silver Quintet, or Sonny Clark sessions with Farmer, in comparison to other Quintets.

...... One of these days when I have enough time (and creative energy) I will try to expound on this at greater length ...

... and Oh Yes! the vibes were right today .. earlier this morning I had posted that I was listening to Vincent Herring's album JOBIM FOR LOVERS ... he is a vastly underrated musician, and this was another reason I was so receptive to Dr. J's original recommendation.

Edited April 3, 2004 by garthsj

[catesta]

I just ordered this.

[mikeweil]

BTW Mike, if you search for "Astor Place Records" on Amazon, you come up with 12 albums. I noticed that the Conrad Herwig album, THE LATIN SIDE OF JOHN COLTRANE was selling for over $55 USED!!

Thanks for pointing this out - I was aware of this, but am not willing to pay $ 55 for a used CD!