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David Janeway: Distant Voices
ByDistant Voices is packed with well-chosen standards and Great American Songbook gems, some familiarWayne Shorter's "Nefertiti; Robert Altman's "All Or Nothing At All"and some that lean to the more obscure side, such as bassist Gary Peacock's "Gardinia" and Walter Bishops's "Waltz For Zweetie." And throw in four distinctive tunes from Janeway's pen which fit right in to the mood of the set, "One For Cedar," "Excursion," "In Passing" and "Movin' On."
In a blindfold test of Distant Voices the name Hank Jones might come up. Jones and Janeway share similar styles, with the crisp display of single notes in the melodies, the lush chords. A style thatto use an outdated description, perhapscould be tagged "classy." Hank Jones classy, Red Garland classy. Janeway and the trio cover Jones' "Minor Contention" to follow up the zingy opener, "Sweet And Lovely." Janeway, Brown and Hart share a rhythmic up-tempo sympathy on Jones' composition, taking things to a breakneck speed, before they ease off the momentum for Mercer Ellington's "Blue Serge," using the spacious arrangement which Bill Evans used on the tune, making the music levitate.
And while the trio illuminates the covers, it also makes the Janeway compositions sound like classics. Working bands seem a thing of the past, but these three virtuosos sound like one; they sound like a group settled into the comfort zone, players who go on the road together for six months of the year, and love every minute of it, after which they go into the studio and turn out a compelling and polished product.
Track Listing
Sweet And Lovely; Minor Contention; Blue Serge; Moontrane; Gardenia; One For Cedar; Brigitte; Waltz For Zweetie; Excursion; All Or Nothing At All; In Passing; Nefertiti; Movin' On.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Distant Voices | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: SteepleChase Records
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Album Review
Dan McClenaghan
Distant Voices
Steeplechase Records
David Janeway
Frank Tate
Chuck Zeuren
Cameron Brown
Billy Hart
Hank Jones
Red Garland
Bill Evans