Tag Archives: Review

David Gilmore: From Here To Here

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Guitarist and composer David Gilmore (not to be mixed with David Gilmour from Pink Floyd) has released a new album on Criss Cross Jazz called “From Here to Here”. The album features eight original compositions from David Gilmore plus two covers.

I have met David Gilmore some years ago in Langnau where he taught the guitar class during the Langnau Jazz Festival. He enjoyed teaching, we had a great time with him and he also showed his mastery in the concerts and the jam sessions.

The album was recorded in 2018 and the line-up includes E.J. Strickland on drums whom I also met at that time in Langnau.

The complete line-up is:

  • David Gilmore – guitar
  • Luis Perdomo – piano
  • Brad Jones- bass
  • E.J. Strickland – drums

The album starts with “Focus Pocus”, a very energetic composition by David Gilmore. After a great guitar solo E.J. Stricklands on drums and Luis Perdomo on piano get their chance to shine.  Excellent start into the album and it makes appetite for more music from this band.

“Cyclic Episode” by Sam Rivers is the next song. A nice composition with interesting changes and great dynamic support by drums and bass during the guitar and piano solo. Trading 8 bars of guitar solo with 8 bars drums solo completes the tune in best jam style.

The album continues with “Metaverse”, a song where the harmonies remind me of Miles Davis’ music from his electric phase in the 1980′s. The guitar comes distorted, the melody is very artistic and the groove moves between even and swing. The solo is a dialog between guitar and piano. A great tune.

In sharp contrast is “Child of Time” where David Gilmore plays on  a nylon guitar. This beautiful ballad features David Gilmore on guitar and Luis Perdomo on piano.

The band returns to an electric sound  with “When and Then”. The precision of this band is amazing, the melody is played in unison and all the little breaks just fit perfectly. We hear again two excellent solos by guitar and piano.

“Innerlude” is the next song. This soft composition by David Gilmore starts very light and open and indulges itself in it’s harmonies.

The album continues with “Interplay” by Bill Evans. This jazz classics features Brad Jones on bass. His great solo is outperformed by an incredible guitar solo. Sound and style of this song keep the spirit of the original with Jim Hall on guitar. One of my highlights on the album.

“The Long Game” is the next song. Another very rhythmic composition that allows E.J. Strickland to set the course. Bass and piano provide the background in unison for the staccato melody played in unison by piano and guitar.  Chapeau for Luis Perdomo for this outstanding performance.

The album continues with “Free Radicals”. The fast latin groove is the foundation for extensive solos by piano,  distorted guitar and drums. After an interlude Brad Jones gets his chance for a bass solo.

“Libation” is the last song on the album. The guitar starts the groove of the song followed by an open and melodic part. Solos by guitar, piano and bass round up this modern jazz composition.

“From Here to Here” is a great album from one of the best guitar players on the scene today matched by a rhythm section of New York first-callers. Contemporary jazz compositions and excellent solos presented with a lot of energy and enthusiasm are the main characteristics of this album.

The closing words come from David Gilmore:
“I wanted to get a smaller working group in the studio to facilitate touring. My very first record Ritualism was centered around a guitar-piano-bass-drums quartet; I wanted to return to that format (a) because I like it, and (b) because of logistics.”

So let’s hope we see him touring with this music and hopefully also with these outstanding musicians.

More information about David Gilmore and upcoming shows are found on his website:
http://www.davidgilmore.net/

And finally the complete album on Spotify:

Lisa Rich: Highwire

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Almost a year ago in June 2019 vocalist, recording artist and educator Lisa Rich has released her third album “Highwire”. Similar to the last album I presented, this recording was slumbering for 32 years before it was released. The reason behind this long period were health problems, which made it impossible for Lisa Rich to perform and so she became a full time vocal teacher.

In recent times, thanks to regular exercise and working with a physical therapist, Lisa Rich’s health has improved quite a bit. The desire to sing returned. She explains: “At first I didn’t think that my voice would come back but it is returning. Of course I’m older now but I think that I have something strong to offer. I’m putting out the ‘Highwire’ record because the music is too good not to be released. Now it’s my goal to put myself out there.”

The album was recorded with a top-notch rhythm section, she sings five Chick Corea songs (Lisa Rich met Chick Corea in the 1980s and received some original songs, most of which had never been recorded vocally) plus originals by Ralph Towner, Duke Ellington, Ornette Coleman and Loonis McGlohon along with the standard, “We’ll Be Together Again.”

The complete line-up is:
Lisa Rich – vocals
Marc Copland – piano
Drew Gress – acoustic bass
Michael Smith – drums
David Kane – piano (track 3 & 6)

The album starts with Chick Corea’s “Highwire The Aerialist”. Lisa Rich presents the complex melody very relaxed supported by a superb rhythm section with a extremely pushing Drew Gress on bass.

“Contessa” another composition by Chick Corea comes next. This jazz waltz was never recorded by Chick Corea. The complex harmonic structure and the melody with big jumps and difficult intervals is mastered perfectly. We also hear an outstanding piano solo by Marc Copland.

“Celeste/Prelude To a Kiss” is the next tune. “Celeste” is by Ralph Towner and I presented a version from Florian Ross some weeks ago, so here it comes again as the opener for this medley where the melody just navigates seamlessly to the Duke Ellington standard “Prelude To a Kiss”. This tune is a beautiful duet between David Kane on piano and Lisa Rich on vocals.

The album continues with “Bud Powell” by Chick Corea. The version we here is possibly the only vocal version of this happy melody. A nice straight jazz tune in Bebop style. Again mastered perfectly and a real pleasure to listen. One of my favorites on the album.  Another superb piano solo by Marc Copland tops this tune off.

The next song is “Stardancer”, the second jazz waltz by Chick Corea. This much more pushing jazz waltz received its recording debut here.

“Lonely Woman” by Ornette Coleman is an atmospheric ballad which shows a complete different Lisa Rich holding very long notes without any vibrato, extremely clear and precise.  The second duet on this album with David Kane on piano and another highlight for me.

The band returns with another lovely ballad called “Songbird” by Loonis McGlohon. Sung and played impeccably.

The albums picks up speed with “The Jinn” by Chick Corea. Quite fancy and presented very entertainingly.

The standard “We’ll Be Together Again” by Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine comes next. Lisa Rich focuses in this ballad on a perfect articulation of each word. Again, the most impressive element of her voice is to hold long notes perfectly without any vibrato.

The album finishes with “The Silence of a Candle” by Ralph Towner. Another ballad openly played in duet with piano. A great melody sung very sensitively.

This album presents music of timeless beauty and style. Lisa Rich is an incredible singer with a stunning voice. I like the versatility of her singing from Bebop to ballads from straight to open and from funny to soulful. A selection of songs that have great melodies but are not so well known, a fantastic band and the two outstanding piano player make this album a real gem. Please listen to it.

If you would like to get some more information on Lisa Rich, please look at her website:
https://www.lisarich.com/

And finally the complete album on Spotify: