Year: 2003
Record Label: Independent
Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic
Musicians: Bob Brough (tenor and soprano saxophones), Stan Fomin (piano), Chris Jennings (bass), Mark Adams (drums), Carol McCartney (vocal on “Today”), Mark Zaret (piano on “Interior” and “Daisy”), Adrean Farrugia (piano on “Lullabye”), Michael Downes (bass on “Interior” and “Daisy”), Artie Roth (bass on “Sweet Jessica”, “An Afternoon in Paris” and “Today”), Bob McLaren (drums on “Interior” and “Lullabye”), Barry Romberg (drums on “Riyaz”), Kevin Brown (drums on “Sweet Jessica”, “An Afternoon in Paris” and “Today”)
Review: Saxophonist Bob Brough has been a fixture on the Toronto jazz scene for over thirty years. His smoky, relaxed tone recalls vintage Stan Getz, while his harmonic adventures bring to mind early John Coltrane. With A Decade of Favorites he culls some of his favourite tracks from a period of over ten years, and the result is a highly listenable collection of mainstream jazz, with the occasional quirk.
Recorded at a number of studios, as well as Toronto’s infamous Montreal Bistro, one of the more remarkable things about the recording is that, while the pieces come from different places and different times, sonically they all sound like they come from one place and one time. This is timeless music, recorded in a straightforward fashion without any trickery that might otherwise date it.
Most of the material is written by either Brough or pianist Stan Fomin, who is featured on six of the ten tracks. Brough’s material tends to be a little more on the mainstream side, while Fomin leans a little more to the modern. The lightly swinging “Iles Du Salut” presents an extended theme that is more angular, with time stops and starts that break things up; it is, however, one of the more intriguing tracks on the album. Fomin’s “Remember Rio” is a light bossa that firmly establishes Brough’s connection with Getz.
Fomin also provides an arrangement of the John Lewis standard, “An Afternoon in Paris”, which swings along comfortably; bassist Artie Roth and drummer Kevin Brow, both members of Brough’s current quartet along with Fomin, have a strong sense of swing, and comfortably underpin Brough’s solo, which is arguably his best on the album. Fomin demonstrates a clear reverence for both Lewis’ writing and playing, but occasionally interjects oblique lines that recall something of Thelonious Monk. Roth’s solo combines the lyricism of Ray Brown with the dexterity of Dave Holland; Brow’s solo demonstrates a musicality that is all too rare for percussionists.
Bassist Chris Jennings’ “Riyaz” is a Middle-Eastern-inflected tune that is the only trio tune on the CD. The snakelike theme leads into a vamp over which Brough solos before moving into an ostinato for drummer Barry Romberg’s ethnic-informed solo.
The Bob Brough/Sonja Tran closer, “Today”, features Carol McCartney on vocals, over a light Latin feel. This track, along with “An Afternoon in Paris” and the Brough original, “Sweet Jessica,” feature Brough’s current quartet and there is a clear chemistry between the players.
A Decade of Favorites collects some of Bob Brough’s favourite recordings from the past ten years. This would appear to be the first CD released under Brough’s name; for fans of mainstream jazz one can only hope that this will not be the last.
Tracks: Interior, Sweet Jessica, Daisy, Iles Du Salut, Remember Rio, An Afternoon in Paris, Lullabye, Riyaz, All Ways Lovely, Today
Record Label Website: http://www.bobbrough.com
Artist's Website: http://www.bobbrough.com
Reviewed by:
John Kelman
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