Year: 2008
Record Label: Capri Records
Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic
Musicians: Joe Gilman – piano, Joe Sanders – bass, and Justin Brown – drums
Review: The Joe Gilman Trio have returned with their second disc devoted to jazzing up the music by legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder with the trio’s latest record, View So Tender: Wonder Revisited, Volume Two. Produced by pianist/bandleader Joe Gilman, the album is pure classic jazz as Gilman is accompanied by bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Justin Brown. The three-part harmonies performed by the group have a comfortable stroll as the piano keys add dainty sparklers that accentuate the curves and opulent arches in the melodies.
The star-crossed harmonies in “Knocks Me Off My Feet” are malleable as the bopping bass notes are clear and concise, shooting straight arrows in the melodic lines, while the piano keys dazzle and prance happily. The harmonies create lively jamborees through “Cryin’ Through the Night” and “Whereabouts,” while trailing down to a slowly fluid, lounging drift along “You and I.” The avant cuts of “Contusion” have a springy pounce as the rhythm section zooms through the entangling vines of piano keys. The breezy gusts and trumped up overtones of “Bird of Beauty” have a Latin zest and tightly rung flashing keys that spice up the tune. The perched piano keys in “Easy Goin’ Evenin’” are eloquent and beautifully finessed, though Gilman picks up speed in “Another Star” producing a snappy tempo and herds of furling spins that feel like they are moving over hot-coals. The trio displays effective diplomacy in the leisurely gait of “Don’t Know Why I Love You,” and the soothing lines of “As If You Read My Mind,” shows their talent for acquiescing to each other’s parts.
The trio’s arrangements are miles away from the original version of these songs made by Stevie Wonder, but they show that applying jazz-inspired treatments to pop tunes produces invigorating emulsions, which make the newly-formed melodies sonically appealing and aurally comfortable. Additionally, the trio has made two records dedicated to the music of Dave Brubeck, which applied classic jazz tones to edgy, experimental material. Gilman has been an educator and a live performer who has played with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Chris Botti, and many others. He also plays on occasion with the Sacramento-area group Capital Jazz Project. Gilman seems to be on a mission to show jazz music’s history through the music of his present CDs. He never disconnects himself from the past, but he never completely lives in its nostalgia.
Tracks: Cryin’ Through The Night, Whereabouts, Knocks Me Off My Feet, You And I, Contusion, Bird Of Beauty, Easy Goin’ Evenin’, Another Star, Don’t Know Why I Love You, As If You Read My Mind
Record Label Website: http://www.caprirecords.com
Artist's Website: http://www.joegilman.com
Listen or Buy: www.cdbaby.com/cd/gilman6
Reviewed by:
Susan Frances
Click here for printer-friendly version of review.
Send this page to a friend.
JazzReview.com
