The chromatic harmonica of Hendrik Meurkens is profound, lyrical, fluid, and swinging on his second release for the Netherlands-based A-Records label. New York Nights features a half dozen standards and four delightful originals performed by the harmonica master with Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, Italian pianist Dado Moroni, bassist Chris Berger, and drummer Jimmy Cobb and together they weave a great tapestry of bebop, swing, and heart-wrenching ballads. Meurkens is an excellent composer as evidenced by the title track, "New York Nights," a pensive, nocturnal ballad. He plays a beautiful melody that is alternated by Eric Alexander's rendition of the bridge with excellent solos from them both. This combination of instruments - harmonica and saxophone - is very nice to hear on this wonderful collection of great songs. Alexander plays some great long lines and short phrases on "It Could Happen to You" with great improvisations by pianist Dado Moroni. The only drawback to this CD is that it does not include any compositions that feature Meurkens playing vibes as on "Mundell's Moods" or the sweet sambas he played on Samba Importado and In a Sentimental Mood. However, his covers of the priceless "You Stepped out of a Dream," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," and Charlie Parker's blazing "Scrapple From the Apple" make up for that and add an extra layer of excitement and variety to this fantastic hour of great jazz. ~ by Paula Edelstein, AMG.
A-Records, AL 73197, 2000
Recorded 19th & 20th
December, 1999 at Current Sounds, New York
Musicians:
Hendrik Meurkens - Harmonica
Eric Alexander - Tenor
Saxophone (#2,3,5,8)
Dado Moroni - Piano
Chris Berger - Bass
Jimmy Cobb - Drums
Tracks:
01. I Didn't Know What Time
It Was {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (5:53)
02. It Could Happen To You
{Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen} (5:31)
03. New York Nights {Hendrik
Meurkens} (6:09)
04. You Stepped Out Of A
Dream {Nacio Herb Brown, Gus Kahn} (2:40)
05. Slidin' {Hendrik
Meurkens} (5:49)
06. Bittersweet {Sam Jones}
(6:26)
07. My Foolish Heart {Ned
Washington, Victor Young} (7:03)
08. The Cottage {Hendrik
Meurkens} (5:03)
09. Second Waltz {Hendrik
Meurkens} (5:49)
10. Scrapple From The Apple
{Charlie Parker} (4:50)
Total Time: 55:18
Credits:
Producer - Hendrik Meurkens
Engineer, Mixing - Joseph
Bartoldus
Photography - Joost Leijen
Liner Notes - Hein van de
Geyn
