...thoughtful lines with a good sound...it's CDs like this that restore my faith in contemporary players'
After playing together in multiple original music settings since meeting in Berkeley in the early '70s, NY saxophonist Williamson and famed pianist Art Lande here gather to apply their singular musical voices to an open-ended and spontaneous set of standards. With their longtime friends from the San Francisco Bay-area, bassist Peter Barshay and drummer Alan Hall, the group explore music from jazz standards such as Joe Henderson's "Mamacita," to early 20th-century classics "Don't Blame Me," "Sweet and Lovely," and "Just You, Just Me." Besides being a superior showcase for the musicians individually and their abilities at interaction, Standard Transmission offers a fresh approach to the standards, bringing vintage songs into the present.
Track Listing:
1. I Didn't Know What Time it Was -- 7:09
2. Mamacita -- 4:50
3. Large Barge -- 4:59
4. Just You, Just Me -- 4:50
5. All of Me -- 6:49
6. Steps To a Woven Dream 6:50
(You Stepped Out of a Dream / Weaver of Dreams)
7. Don't Blame Me -- 6:35
8. Sweet and Lovely -- 5:10
9. Nature Boy -- 7:25
10. The Touch of Your Lips -- 5:58
11. Mysterious Moon -- 1:06
(Misterioso / How High The Moon)
Performers:
Bruce Williamson - alto sax, soprano sax, flute, bass clarinet
Art Lande - piano, melodica
Peter Barshay - bass
Alan Hall - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Bruce Williamson
Recorded and mixed by Cookie Marenco at
OTR Studios, Belmont CA
Recorded on May 20-21, 2009
Mastered by Stevin McNamara, Ashland, OR
Cover artwork by Shehrezad Maher
Musician photographs by Dan Wood, David Belove,
and David Silver
Cover layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Standard Transmission
All Music (Ken Dryden)
One of the benefits of the Origin label is they give exposure to talents deserving of greater recognition, whether they are new up-and-coming artists or veterans like Bruce Williamson. In spite of his contributions as a sideman over several decades with Jack McDuff, Fred Hersch, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, and Toshiko Akiyoshi (in addition to many ...
All About Jazz (James Henry Smith)
Woodwind multi-instrumentalist Bruce Williamson features his longtime compatriot and mentor, pianist Art Lande, in this collection of mostly standards, breathing new life into old melodies. Except for "Large Barge," a Williamson original tune reflecting his impressions of a lazy barge on the Ohio River, this quartet outing contains only material th ...
All About Jazz.com (C. Michael Bailey)
One of the early genius elements of small ensemble jazz manifested November 26, 1945, when Charlie Parker entered the studio with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, and, using the harmonic foundation of Ray Noble's "Cherokee," recorded a new melody, call "Ko-Ko." He went on to do the same with the Hamilton/Lewis composition "How High The Moon," which ...
Jazz Socitey Of Oregon (Kyle O'Brien)
Saxophonist Williamson and pianist Lande played together nearly four decades ago, but the Bay Area musicians went separate ways. Their musical connection never faded. The opener finds both players taking upbeat solos on a tune that walks back and forth between waltz and swing, Rodgers & Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was." Joe Henderson's "Mama ...
Cadence Magazine (David Kane)
Fortunately, I don't have to end this batch of reviews on a down note thanks to (13), a new CD from saxist Williamson. This is in part due to the presence of the chronically under-appreciated talents of pianist Art Lande. More than just a celebrity sideman (as with the previous CD), Art contributes several arrangements to the proceedings as well as ...
Jazz Society of Oregon (George Fendel)
Deep in the shed, New York alto ace Williamson teams up with the admired veteran pianist Art Lande in a quartet setting mainly devoted to favorite melodies of long standing. Hence, the clever album title. The quartet is completed by Peter Barshay, bass, and Alan Hall, drums. Among many high moments here, try "Just You, Just Me." A guy named Monk tu ...
