BeatleJazz - All You Need (2007)

Drummer Brian Melvin, keyboardist Dave Kikoski and bassist Larry Grenadier have hit on a winning combination with their BeatleJazz project, which features inventive jazz arrangements of Beatles melodies both familiar and (relatively) obscure. You might expect treacly, easy listening arrangements of these tunes, but the group instead opts for experimentation, and its experiments are usually successful. As usual, they have enlisted some help from their friends (sorry), and All You Need features contributions from legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Richard Bona and harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans. Some of the treatments are fairly straight-ahead: "Fool on the Hill" is rendered as a lilting jazz waltz, and "The Night Before" is given a standard piano-trio arrangement prominently featuring Kikoski's Fender Rhodes piano. But "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is played in a sharp and edgy style, and Bona sings "All You Need Is Love" affectingly in duala, his native language. On "Lady Madonna" the group takes a melody that is treacherously difficult to swing and manages to do just that, taking rhythmic liberties as necessary and turning the tune into a credible jazz vehicle. "Look at Me," one of the tracks on which Lovano makes an appearance, features some excellent blowing by the master but doesn't hang together quite as well as an arrangement. Overall, though, this album is a solid winner. ~ by Rick Anderson, AMG. 

Lightyear Entertainment, LTY 54796, 2007
Recorded 12th June, 2006 at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York;
8th & 13th June, 2006 at Peter Karl Studio, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Dave Kikoski - Arranger, Piano, Synthesizer
Larry Grenadier - Bass (#1-3,5,7-9,11)
Brian Melvin - Drums, Tabla, Arranger 

Guests:
Joe Lovano - Saxophone (#3,8)
Toots Thielemans - Harmonica (#1,7,11)
Richard Bona - Bass, Vocals (#4,6,10) 

Tracks:
01. Fool On The Hill {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:24)
02. Lady Madonna {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:39)
03. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:09)
04. All You Need Is Love {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:20)
05. All Things Must Pass {George Harrison} (5:42)
06. The Night Before {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:40)
07. Beautiful Boy {John Lennon} (6:28)
08. Look At Me {John Lennon} (6:46)
09. I Want You [She's So Heavy] {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:18)
10. Cold Turkey {John Lennon} (7:16)
11. Waterfalls {Paul McCartney} (3:35) 

Total Time: 66:17 

Credits:
Producer - Dave Kikoski
Producer, Mixing - Brian Melvin
Executive Producer - Hisao Ebine
Engineer - Michael Marciano [Systems Two Studios]
Engineer [Assistant] - Mike Ross [Systems Two Studios]
Engineer - Jonathan Townesm [Peter Karl Studio]
Mixing - John Gronvall [Arcadia Studios]
Mixing [Assistant] - Sten Saluveer (#1,7,11) [Arcadia Studios]
Mastering - Matt Baxter [Baxter's Ranch]
Photography - John Abbott
Artwork, Design - Marju Toom-Melvin

Jacky Terrasson - What It Is (1999)

Pianist Jacky Terrasson is characteristic of today’s young jazz players. For a time, he seemed determined to capture the kind of piano trio classicism embodied by the likes of Bill Evans, with a developing sense of innate communication with minimalist drummer Leon Parker, and bassist Ugonna Okegwo, culminating in their satisfying live recording Alive. The path has changed for Terrasson this time out however, perhaps owed to sheer restlessness. It’s a shame that Jacky’s generation evidences little interest in developing a real band concept. 

All that’s not to condemn the current release; there is indeed a lot to like here as Terrasson has determined to showcase his original compositions performed by a varied cast whose core is Okegwo and drummer Jaz Sawyer. Produced by percussionist Mino Cinelu, Terrasson envelopes himself in rhythms from a variety of cultural sources, engages such disparate voices as harmonica player Gregoire Maret, guitars, electric basses, and tasteful use of keyboards to augment his piano in several instances. These landscaping tools are all in service to an attractive program of pieces, from originals to an arrangement of Ravel’s “Bolero.” Most notable is the comely line “Baby Plum,” which hosts Michael Brecker’s tenor and Richard Bona’s African bass. ~ Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes.com. 

Blue Note, 7243 4 98756 2 3, 1999
Recorded 16^th-18^th & 27^th November, 1998 At Avatar Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Jacky Terrasson - Piano (#1-7,9) Fender Rhodes (#4,6,9), Organ [Wurlitzer] (#8, Shekere (#9)
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone (#2,8)
Rick Centalonza - Flute (#1,9), Oboe (#9)
Jay Collins - Flute (#5,6)
Adam Rogers - Guitar (#1,7)
Ugonna Okegwo - Acoustic Bass (#2,3,5,6,9)
Fernando Saunders - Electric Bass (#1,7,9)
Richard Bona - Electric Bass (#4,8)
Jaz Sawyer - Drums (#2,4,5,6,9)
Mino Cinelu - Drums (#1,3,7 Percussion (#1,2,4,5,7-9), Sounds [Effects] (#6), Guitar (#9)
Gregoire Maret - Harmonica (#5,6)
Xiomara Laugart - Lead Vocals (#4) 

Tracks:
1. Sam's Song {Jacky Terrasson} (7:28)
2. What's Wrong With You! {Jacky Terrasson} (5:58)
3. Little Red Ribbon {Jacky Terrasson} (5:21)
4. Better World {Jacky Terrasson} (3:01)
5. Toot-Toot's Tune {Jacky Terrasson} (6:32)
6. Money {Roger Waters} (4:44)
7. Le Roi Basil {Jacky Terrasson} (8:35)
8. Baby Plum {Jacky Terrasson} (5:48)
9. Ravel: Bolero {Maurice Ravel} (6:36) 

Total Time: 54:03

Credits:
Producer, Additional Sound Effects - Mino Cinelu
Arranger - Jacky Terrasson
Recording (#1,7,9) & Mixing Engineer - Neil Dorfsman
Recording Engineer - Rob Eaton (#2-6,8)
Mastering Engineer - Leon Zarvos
Art Direction, Design - Jessica Novod
Creative Director - Gordon H Jee
Management - The Management Ark
Photography - Barron Claiborne