Year: 2008
Record Label: Self-Released
Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic
Musicians: Kevin Van Sant (guitar), Ben Palmer (bass)
Review: Guitarist Kevin Van Sant and bassist Ben Palmer’s third CD release as a duo is a tribute to the music made famous by pianist Horace Silver. Included are traditional gems like “Strollin,’” “Silver’s Serenade” and “Ecaroh,” as well as less well-known compositions like “Summer In Central Park” and “Juicy Lucy.”
Van Sant, a New Jersey native, is a freelance performer and teacher in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC. There he performs in a number of small groups and has performed in countries around the world including Russia, Spain, Holland and Switzerland. In addition he has made three appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Austin, Texas native Ben Palmer, also a freelance performer and teacher in NC, works frequently both in and outside of the jazz realm, and has performed with Peter Cincotti, George Benson and Jon Anderson of Yes.
The jazz duo format has a long and rich tradition going back as far as Joe Venuti/Eddie Lang and Louis Armstrong/Earl Hines. While the possibilities are more open ended in the duo, more so when the duo doesn’t include a drummer, the level of communication between the artists is, because of the setup’s transparency, made more acute. Having worked together in the past has given these artists an advantage as they have built up a wide collection of shared musical associations they frequently call upon to great benefit.
For example, on “Strollin’” the relaxed camaraderie they share is readily apparent. Palmer’s light lines provide a subtle harmonic bed upon which Van Sant is able to lay down smooth lines that enliven the composition’s already suave mood. On “Soulville” Van Sant’s more percussive articulations are underscored well by Palmer who provides maximum contrast by playing some of the simplest and most direct two-beat lines of the disc. Knowing when to come forward and when to lay back is a difficult task by any thinking jazz musician, but on this tune each of the artists are obviously in the other’s head; with regard to the power of musical interaction, the effect is a true tour-de-force.
To be fair, certain pieces don’t work. On “Silver’s Serenade” Palmer’s over-reliance on slapped-percussive accentuations during Van Sant’s solo distracts from and draws attention away from the marvelous melodic cells Van Sant continually rearranges, and “Juicy Lucy” doesn’t find a comfortable groove and as a result the tempo never really locks in.
As artists each of these fine musicians demonstrate one of the main tenants of the 21st century - excellent jazz musicians can be found in almost every community throughout the United States. Van Sant is, overall, a skilled craftsman in not just playing delightful solos, but also has a special manner of handling each tune’s melodies in order to not only gracefully present them but to also fill out the harmonic underpinning so essential when dealing with a composer of Silver talents. Palmer is equally skilled at finding tasteful ways to highlight the melodies with silken bass lines, and he is also a darn good soloist - as is amply demonstrated on compositions like “Peace” and “Soulville.”
Tracks: Strollin', Silver's Serenade, Peace, Soulville, Juicy Lucy, Lonely Woman, Nica's Dream, Summer In Central Park, Enchantment, Ecorah and Calcutta Cutie
Artist's Website: http://www.kevinvansant.com/
Reviewed by:
Thomas R. Erdmann
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