By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Clockwise
All
jazz fans know pianist, composer and arranger Cedar Walton. He was born in 1934
and immersed in the scene at the same time as Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud
Powell, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, but was best known for his
association with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Many of Walton’s charts are
legendary, and are staples in the books of name combos and big bands throughout
the jazz world.
Every
tune in this tribute album by Markley is a Walton original.
Markley
is a pianist, educator, composer and arranger; he heads the big band featured
in this release. He’s an active performer in the Denver area, and is director
of jazz studies at the University of Wyoming. He also teaches applied jazz
piano and improvisation.
His
group here is standard: five reeds, four trumpets — including the famed Terell Stafford
— four trombones, and a rhythm section of piano, bass and drums. Two tracks
also feature guitar. This tasty result has earned rave reviews, including
four-and-a-half stars from Downbeat.
Walton’s
compositions were always swingers at any tempo, and Markley maintains that level
of excellence. As an added bonus, the chord structure and changes made possible
by the use of full reed and brass sections makes “everything old, new again.” The artists have been given plenty of room for solos, and they
make good use of every opportunity.
I
hadn’t heard Stafford for awhile, and had forgotten what a groovin’ horn player
he is.
It’s
terrific to hear a truly excellent band swing like this one. Purists who yearn
for those good ol’ days — and the wonderful groups that rocked us back then —
will find that this album brings back some great memories, and satisfies the
soul.
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