REMEMBERING - New Jersey Jazz Society

JerseyReviewsJazzCompactViewsBy Joe LangNJJS Board MemberSackville and Arbors have both contributed newselections to the NJJS inventory this month.■ ROSSANO SPORTIELLO has an ever-expandingdiscography, and that is good news for fans of jazzpiano. This young Italian pianist, who has relocatedto New York City, has quickly become a favorite ofboth those who play with him, and those who haveheard his artistry. It Amazes Me (Sackville –3072) is a recently recorded solo album that givesthe listener a taste of his impeccable technique andhis tasteful eclecticism. If you dig ballads, you willbe pleased with his sensitive renditions of “DarnThat Dream,” “I’ve Told Every Little Star,” “What IsThere to Say” and “It Amazes Me.” Do you dig goodtunes that have been hiding from the public inrecent times? Then you will be pleased with hisreviving of “Dearest, You’re Nearest to My Heart.”Having studied with the legendary pianist and jazzeducator Barry Harris, it is natural that he wouldinclude a few Harris originals, and “Rouge” and “JustOpen Your Heart do nicely on this occasion.Sportiello gives a taste of his classical roots withScarlatti’s “Sonata No. L-33.” Jazz musicians are bytheir very nature composers, as their improvisationsare instant compositions. When they consciouslycreate a melody that is designed to stand on itsown, the good ones create pieces that will be oftenheard played by others. Sportiello has contributedtwo such pieces in this collection, “Prologue,” donein medley with the standard “Never Let Me Go,”and “Song for Lala.” If you have seen Sportiello inperson, you know that he is at home playing stridepiano, and he lets that aspect of his playing comethrough in the closing tunes, starting with thesecond part of a medley comprised of “It’s the Talkof the Town” and “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” andcontinuing with “When I Grow Too Old to Dream”and “Sleep.” This is an exciting session from one ofthe bright new lights on the jazz scene.■ For another aspect of ROSSANO SPORTIELLO’Stalent, dig him in a duo setting with NICKIPARROTT on Do It Again (Arbors – 19387). Theyassay nine of the 16 tracks as instrumentals, but onthe others, Sportiello assumes the role of accompanistfor Parrott’s vocals,even adding his uniquevocal style to a duet on“Two Sleepy People.”Parrott’s singing is becominga more significant partof her performances, andshe is developing into a finejazz vocalist. On this disc,she gives wonderfulreadings of “I Love the WayYou’re Breaking My Heart,”“Come Rain or ComeShine,” “Do It Again,”“You’re the One I Think IWaited For,” an originalsong that has words andmusic by Parrott, “SugarSweet” and “Moonglow.”The duo instrumentalscover a lot of bases. Theyinclude Tommy Flanagan’s“Sea Changes,” “Idaho,”Ellington’s “FleuretteAfracaine,” “Liza (All the Clouds Roll Away),”“Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Sentimental Journey,” and“A Sleepin’ Bee.” Sportiello takes solo honors on“Of Foreign Lands and People” from RobertSchumann’s Scenes from Childhood, and “WonderWhy.” Both Parrott and Sportiello are a real pleasureto catch in person, as they both have personalitiesand smiles that ooze charisma. Their music has thesame quality.■ Without reading a word on the booklet forDiggin’ Up Bones (Arbors – 19394) I knew thatI was in for a surprise when I saw the cover photoof BUCKY PIZZARELLI done up in a cowboy hat,kerchief and sheriff’s badge with a broad grin on hisface. The band is billed as “Buck” Pizzarelli and theWest Texas Tumbleweeds. The other members ofthe band are John “Rusty Pickins” Pizzarelli onguitar, Tommy “Dusty Spurs” White on pedal steelguitar, Martin “Marty Moose” Pizzarelli on bass,Aaron “Hoss” Weinstein on violin and mandolin,Danny “Two Drum Sticks and a Side of Grits” Cootson drums, and Rebecca “Becky-Lou” Kilgore, Andy“The Velvet Sage” Levas and “Cowboy” Joe West onvocals, with “Rusty Pickins” Pizzarelli and Jessica“Jesse Janes” Molaskey providing occasionalbackup vocals. The album is designated as ArborsCountry Series, Volume 1. Space does not permitme to fit each of theseplayers into the schemeof things via biographicalreferences. Suffice to saythat they have pulled offone of the surprisingalbums of the year, a funfilledtrip down the pathof Western Swing, thathybrid of jazz, swing andcountry sounds that wasoriginally popularized mostfamously by Bob Wills. Itis a style that has beenperpetuated by manysince, influencing manyof the country stars likeWillie Nelson and MerleHaggard, both of whomhave often expressed theiraffinity for jazz. The disc isloaded with terrific tracks.Particularly notable is JohnPizzarelli’s “Ain’tOklahoma Pretty,” his sole vocal feature, kind of asouthwestern version of “I Like Jersey Best.” Kilgoreactually has had a fair amount of experienceworking with Western Swing bands, and she soundsright at home in these surroundings. The closestthing to a straight ahead jazz track is the twoguitarists Pizzarelli and Weinstein’s collaboration on“Stage Freight” by Carl Kress. If you have neveropened up your ears to this genre of music, it isabout time that you did, and Diggin’ Up Bones is agood place to start.■ The DIVA Jazz Orchestra has spawned manyplayers who have gone on to significant careers asjazz stars. It also gave birth to Five Play, a smallgroup with a fluctuating cast of players drawn fromthe big band. Now the rhythm section that hasbeen a bedrock for the big band for many years,drummer and leader Sherrie Maricle, pianistTomoko Ohno and bassist Noriko Ueada have putout their first session as THE DIVA JAZZ TRIO,Never Never Land (Arbors – 19393). Thesethree talented players are simply a pleasure tohear. Ohno is a fluid and swinging improviser. Uedanever lets the pulse falter, and has the kind of solochops that belie the jokes about bass solos. Mariclehas established herself as one of the most versatileand accomplished drummers on the scene, equallycontinued on page 4644_________________________________ October 2009