Great
live material from Ted Curson - a Parisian performance that features
Ted with a range of different artists, really opening up in ways that
show the full range of his tremendous talents! Paris always seems to
bring out the best in Curson (we consider ourselves fortunate to have
caught him there live years back, sharing a stage with Rufus Harley)
– and this set shows Ted really taking full advantage of the
opportunities the scene offers him. Some cuts are straight small
combo jazz – with Ted's trumpet burning it up over backing from the
trio of pianist Alain Jean-Marie. Other numbers add in a bit of
backup vocals, behind Curson's own bluesy lead. And still others
feature added alto, flute, and percussion – making for a further
level of expression that we don't usually hear on an album from Ted.
Curson's vocal performances are peppered throughout the double-length
set – and almost seem to be more crowd pleasing moments, where he
might be expected to warble a standard for the overseas audience –
but they do have a sort of charm, given the raspy style of singing –
and one number, a hip take on "Summertime", is actually a
funky groover that really makes happy that Ted decided to sing along
(he gets some help on that number from soulful Sylvia Howard, too!)
Titles include "Reava's Waltz", "Tears For Dolphy",
"Caravan", "Dig", "Round Midnight",
"Milestones", "Confirmation", "Cantaloupe
Island", and "Pilma Boogie". © Dusty
Groove, Inc.
Blue
Marge, 1009, 2007
Recorded
30th & 31st August, 2006 Live at Sunside in
Paris, France
Personnel:
Ted
Curson - Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Flute, Vocals
Alain
Jean-Marie - Piano
Gilles Naturel - Bass
Philippe
Soirat - Drums
Other
Players:
Pierrick
Pédron - Alto Saxophone [CD1: 1,3,5,7,8 & CD2: 1,3,5,7,8,9]
Guillaume
Naturel - Flute [CD1: 2 & CD2: 3
Julie
Saury - Percussion [CD1: 1,7 & CD2 3,6]
Voice
Solos:
Daiva
Starinsakite [CD1: 4]
Evrim
Özsuca [CD2: 4,6,7]
Ferhat
Öz [CD1: 4,6 & CD2: 2,6,7]
Jaanika
Ventsel [CD1: 2,6 & CD2: 6]
Silvia
Howard [CD2: 9]
Track
Listing:
CD1:
1.
Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (8:43)
2.
Tears For Dolphy {Ted Curson} (8:12)
3.
Dig {Miles Davis} (9:06)
4.
'Round About Midnight {Thelonious Monk} (8:54)
5.
Woody 'N' You {Dizzy Gillespie} (11:33)
6.
Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael} (6:56)
7.
Cantaloupe Island {Herbie Hancock} (8:06)
8.
Plima Boogie {Ted Curson} (4:18)
Time:
1:05:48
CD2:
1.
Reava's Waltz {Ted Curson} (7:27)
2.
Blueberry Hill {Fats Domino} (5:45)
3.
Tin Tin Deo {Dizzy Gillespie} (13:28)
4.
Lover Man {Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman} (6:28)
5.
Milestones {Miles Davis} (7:12)
6.
Summertime {George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (6:35)
7.
Cherokee {Ray Noble} (10:21)
8.
Confirmation {Charlie Parker} (7:01)
9.
Blues Medley {Various} (9:06)
Time:
1:13:23
Credits:
Producer
- Gérard Terronès
Coordinator
- Marianne Fernel
Recording,
Mixing, Editing, Mastering - Alain Gandolfi
Design,
Graphics - Fasm
Photography
- Jacquie Dauvilliers-Morat
Liner
Notes, Translation - Jean Szlamowicz
This
two CD set contains over two hours of wonderfully entertaining jazz
from the indefatigable Curson, 71 years old when recorded live in
August of 2006. The fiery trumpeter whose early career associations
included Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy, and then later
established a notable presence on the European jazz scene, introduces
us to some very talented but lesser known overseas musicians.
Pierrick
Pédron is a formidable bebop altoist out of the Cannonball Adderley
school, with a tone sometimes approaching the rawness of Vincent
Herring. He plays with endless drive, polished technique and great
clarity. Pianist Alain Jean-Marie has an absorbing, sophisticated
style resembling that of Barry Harris. Bassist Gilles Naturel and
drummer Philippe Soirat prove to be solid and tasteful in support,
and Naturel’s lucid solos are quite effective. His brother
Guillaume exhibits a pure, warm tone and nimble fingering on flute.
Julie Saury, daughter of clarinetist Maxim, contributes engaging
solos on congas and bongos. Sylvia Howard sings her heart out
alongside Curson in a “Blues Medley.” That leaves the vocal
choir, Ferhat Öz, Evrim Özsuca, Daiva Starinskaite and Jaanika
Ventsel, four young singers that Curson discovered during a singing
competition at the Nõmme Jazz Festival in Estonia. They all sing
with great feeling, verve and individuality.
Curson
himself plays with much spirit and creativity, and also sings up a
storm in a blues-drenched, ingratiating voice. The program ranges
from Curson’s own “Tears for Dolphy” and “Reava’s Waltz,”
to many jazz classics and standards such as “Caravan,” “Dig,”
“’Round About Midnight,” “Woody ’n’ You,” “Tin Tin
Deo,” “Milestones,” “Cherokee,” “Confirmation,”
“Georgia On My Mind,” “Lover Man” and even “Blueberry
Hill.” Referring to Mingus, Curson is quoted as saying, “The
older I get, the more I begin to look like my master and even act
like him.” Mingus would certainly have appreciated this ambitious
project, and the gusto and humor with which it’s delivered. ~ by
Scott Albin, JazzTimes.
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