Label: Ojc
Audio CD: (July 1, 1991)
Jazz
On "Manteca", we find a traditional trio comprised of Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Arthur Taylor on drums, then add Ray Barretto on congas. Does the conga rhythm work with the trio? You'll have to be the judge of that.
With two percussionists on this CD, there are some lively solos (some extended) with Taylor and Baretto trading off on "Manteca", "Lady Be Good", and "Exactly Like You". At times, the conga does add an interesting element to these, as well as the other numbers. At other times, the conga rhythm/beat seems a bit repetitive and a little distracting. It's more a matter of personal taste than a reflection on the musicians as they are all clearly talented.
Each member of of this quartet gets ample solo time to show off their stuff. Red Garland, who served as a sideman for the Miles Davis Quintet, provides a solid performance whether he's carrying the melody or improvising during his solos and accompaniment. Paul Chambers, another Davis Quintet alumni, serves up fine performances as well and even has a bowed solo in "S'Wonderful".
Overall, it's an interesting experiment with an unusual combination that works for me on certain levels, but not on others. For those who are new to Red Garland, or expanding their RG collection, I would first suggest checking out the titles "Red Garland's Piano", "All Kinds of Weather", or "A Garland Of Red".
By Music lover.
**
If you think that Red Garland has been accused of cocktail mannerisms by some (stupid?) critics, you find yourself thinking about the justice in this world. Very few pianists even nowadays could reach Red's perfection this is for sure. Red Garland to me is one of the greatest piano players in the history of jazz music. Period. His albums are paradigmatical Jazz played at the highest level. He simply was perfection in Jazz piano. He had swing, melody, taste, comp abilities, flashy chops, bop techniques all at his command. How could we call him a cocktail pianist?!?! In this album he proved his marvellous playing once again. The line up is the common Garland trio with Paul Chambers and Arthur Taylor responsible with Red of a long list of splendid albums recorded for Prestige during the fifties - early sixties. In this case we find Ray Barretto on the congas too. And the alchemy works. Ray simply reinforce the beat on two and four. Don't think of this album as a "latin" album as the booklet rightly explain. This is pure Jazz the bebop way. The only "pure latin" tune is the wonderful Manteca, played with congas since ever, so Ray is even more in place here. A perfect gem is the closing number, the ballad "Portrait of Jenny". But even in the other standard tunes (plus a long slow blues, Mort's Report) Ray simply reinforce the swing feel (emphasizing the second and fourth beats of the bar as I already told you) and does not ruin anything of this trio's magic. On the contrary he adds a little rythmic spice that in this album is enjoyable. It is a little detour from the common sound of this perfect, perfect, ... perfect trio.
By Jazzcat "stef".
**
Red Garland- Piano,
Paul Chamber- Bass,
Arthur Taylor- Drums,
Ray Barretto- Conga.
**
01. Manteca 8.07
02. S'Wonderful 6.42
03. Lady Be good 5.50
04. Exactly Like You 7.08
05. Mort's Report 12.11
06. Portrait Of Jenny 7.18
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