This is a memorable set. When pianist Junko Onishi performs songs from the likes of Charles Mingus ("So Long Eric"), John Lewis ("Concorde"), and Ornette Coleman ("Congeniality"), she interprets each of the tunes as much as possible within the intent and style of its composer. "So Long Eric," although performed by her trio, gives one the impression at times that several horns are soloing together; in addition, polyrhythms are utilized part of the time, Ornette's "Congeniality" has a strong pulse but fairly free improvising, while "Concorde" sounds both distinguished and full of blues feeling, like John Lewis himself. Onishi's exploration of "Blue Skies" uplifts the warhorse through the use of colorful vamps and an altered melody, she takes the slow ballad "Darn That Dream" as a medium-tempo stomp, and her original, "How Long Has This Been Goin' On," is brooding but not downbeat and swings hard without losing its serious nature. There is not a weak selection in the bunch and the interplay between Onishi, bassist Reginald Veal, and drummer Herlin Riley is quite impressive. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Somethin' Else Records,
TOCJ-5570, 1994
Recorded 6th-8th May, 1994 at
Village Vanguard, New York, NY
Musicians:
Junko Onishi - Piano
Reginald Veal - Bass
Herlin Riley - Drums
Tracks:
1. So Long Eric {Charles
Mingus} (8:27)
2. Blue Skies {Irving Berlin}
(9:16)
3. Concorde {John Lewis}
(6:32)
4. How Long Has This Been
Goin' On {Junko Onishi} (10:45)
5. Darn That Dream {Eddie
DeLange, James Van Heusen} (6:31)
6. Congeniality {Ornette
Coleman} (14:02)
Total Time: 55:35
Credits:
Producer - Junko Onishi
Executive Producer - Hitoshi
Namekata
Engineer - Jim Anderson
Assistant Engineer - Brian
Kingman, Mark Shane
Engineer, Mixing - Masuzo
Iida
Mastering - Yoshio Okazaki
Art Direction - Kaoru Taku
