Requisites

The Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 1 is a 2017 live recording by the trio at The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 2017. It was recorded in honor of the 25th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, and their President, Bob Levi who was celebrating his 70th Birthday and released on the Yarlung Records label. The executive producer was Randy Bellous.

Track List | 
  1. What Is This Thing Called Love?
  2. Valse Noire
  3. On Green Dolphin Street
  4. Seriously
The Players
  • Yuko Mabuchi ~ piano
  • Del Atkins ~ bass
  • Bobby Breton ~ drums

Review by Eddie Carter

On the stage, a beautiful young woman sits at a baby grand piano unleashing an aggressive flood of sound into the audience. Behind her are two elegantly dressed gentlemen, Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums, who match her creativity, precise timing, and articulation with their own musical artistry note-for-note. Her name is Yuko Mabuchi.

The four-song album opens with one of Cole Porter’s most recorded compositions, the 1929 classic, What Is This Thing Called Love?, composed for the Broadway musical, Wake Up and Dream. It is followed by the very pretty ballad Valse Noire by Cincinnati, Ohio composer Mark Lehman who originally wrote the tune for solo piano. The pace slows down as the second side begins with the 1947 popular song On Green Dolphin Street by Bronislaw Kaper and Ned Washington. It was composed for the film Green Dolphin Street released that year and became a jazz standard after Miles Davis recorded it on his 1958 Columbia album, Jazz Track. The album closes with Seriously by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles who wrote it for fellow singer Leslie Odom, Jr., who appeared on the weekly public radio program and podcast, This American Life.

Source: Jazztracks by Eddie Carter | Excerpt: 12/2018 | atlantaaudioclub.org

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Requisites

Butch Warren French 5Tet was recorded in 2011, two years prior to his passing away. The double bassist was joined by a cohesive collection of four French musicians ~ saxophonist Pierrick Menuau, pianist Pierre Christophe, with Mourad Benhammou on drums and Jean Philippe Bordier playing guitar.

Unfortunately for the jazz world, this was his debut and only album as a leader, however, it was worth the wait. Warren brings a total of eight songs to this recording – four original compositions to this live recording, adding a classic from Johnny Mercer and David Raksin, one by Hank Mobley, and two from Kenny Dorham, having recorded regularly with the latter two.

Tracks:

  • A Little Chipie (Warren)
  • East of the Village (Mobley)
  • Laura (Mercer/Raksin)
  • I Remember Monk (Warren)
  • Barack Obama (Warren)
  • Eric Walks (Warren)
  • The Theme (Dorham)
  • Blue Bossa (Dorham)

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Requisites

Junjo is the debut album by bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding and was recorded on April 6-7, 2005. It wasn’t released until April 2006 on the Spanish label Ayva Music.

The trio features pianist Aruán Ortiz, Francisco Mela on drums and then 22-year-old Spalding on upright bass, providing vocals, often wordless, on all but two tracks. Besides compositions by Jimmy Rowles, Egberto Gismonti and Chick Corea the trio plays originals.

Personnel
  • Esperanza Spalding – double bass, vocals
  • Aruán Ortiz – piano
  • Francisco Mela – drums
Tracks
  1. “The Peacocks” (Jimmy Rowles) – 7:56
  2. “Loro” (Egberto Gismonti) – 5:06
  3. “Humpty Dumpty” (Chick Corea) – 5:51
  4. “Mompouana” (Aruán Ortiz) – 7:51
  5. “Perazuán” (Spalding, Ortiz) – 3:38
  6. “Junjo” (Spalding) – 5:13
  7. “Cantora de Yala” (G. Leguizamón, M. Castilla) – 4:55
  8. “Two Bad” (Spalding) – 6:59
  9. “Perazela” (Francisco Mela, Spalding) – 1:32

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Requisites

The Baddest Monk: This 2012 sophomore offering follows the Dancing Monk debut of the Thelonious Monk trilogy by jazz pianist Eric Reed. Having received critical acclaim for both, Reed along with his colleagues prove once again that he can illustrate the breadth of his thought on one of the most idiosyncratic jazz composers. This is an insightful and vital re-examination by a group of young players of the remarkable talent of the composer and sets a new path for those desiring to partake, understand and appreciate.

Personnel: Eric Reed – piano, Seamus Blake – tenor saxophone, Etienne Charles – trumpet, Matt Clohesy – bass, Henry Cole – drums and Jose James – vocal

Producer: Joe Fields / Savant Records

Record Date: Dubway Studios, New York City / December 5, 2011

Cover: Keiji Obata

Songs: Rhythm-A-Ning, Epistrophy, Green Chimneys, Monk’s Mood, ‘Round Midnight, Evidence, Monk Beurre Rouge, Bright Mississippi, The Baddest Monk

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Jazz In Film

Inside Man is a 2006 film directed by Spike Lee and stars Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The Story: From a cell, a man tells us he has planned the perfect bank robbery; he invites us to watch. An efficient gang enters a Manhattan bank, locks the doors, and takes hostages. They work deliberately, without haste. Detective vs. bank president vs. corruption charges vs. power broker vs. hidden agenda as they enter high-stakes negotiations.

The Music: Gold Digger by Kanye West samples Ray Charles’ I Got A Woman; Chaiyya Chaiyya – Bollywood Joint” written by A.R. Rahman, Gulzar, Panjabi MC and “Chaiyya Chaiyya” also written by A.R. Rahman, Gulzar with all Orchestral Arrangement by Terence Blanchard. 

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