Swój specyficzny styl gry gitarzysta Doug MacDonald oparł na tradycji sięgającej dokonań takich muzyków jak Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery, czy Joe Pass. Muzyk dorastał w Honolulu, następnie osiadł w Los Angeles, jednak od 1990 roku jego stałą bazą jest Nowy Jork. To tam właśnie miał okazję występować u boku takich gwiazd jak Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughan, Buddy Rich, czy Hank Jones. Tam też działa do dziś nagrywając i występując z własnym trio i kwartetem, a także z 13-osobowym zespołem The Jazz Coalition. Dziś Doug MacDonald ma na koncie kilkanaście albumów firmowanych własnym nazwiskiem, a zrealizowanych w rozmaitych konfiguracjach.
Najnowszym przedsięwzięciem gitarzysty jest kwartet tworzony z nim wraz z saksofonistą Bobem Sheppardem, grającym na stylowych organach Hammonda Careyem Frankiem, oraz perkusistą Benem Scholzem.
Znakomitego saksofonistę Boba Shepparda znamy od lat z albumów nagrywanych z takimi muzykami jak Joe La Barbera, Tom Warrington, Brian Bromberg, Dave Slonaker, Freda Payne, Ron King, Carol Robbins czy Ken Wiley, oraz składu Clare Fischer Big Band, a z jego usług w roli sidemana korzystali tak znakomici artyści jak Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, bracia Brecker, Joni Mitchell i grupa Steely Dan.
Nadający ton całemu albumowi Carey Frank, to jedna z najjaśniej świecących wschodzących gwiazd organów Hammonda za Oceanem. Muzyk prowadzi własne składy, oraz stale współpracuje z Erickiem Marienthallem.
Z kolei perkusista Ben Scholz może poszczycić się współpracą z m.in. Royem Hargroovem, Esperenzą Spalding i ..Buddy Guyem.
Nic dziwnego, iż Doug MacDonald otaczając się tak wybornymi muzykami, zrealizował jeden z najlepszych albumów w swej dotychczasowej karierze.
"Organisms" to siedem znakomicie opracowanych standardów i trzy autorskie kompozycje gitarzysty.
Album ukazał się 19 lutego 2019.
Robert Ratajczak
The Doug MacDONALD Quartet: Organisms
CD, D.MacDonald
program:
1. It’s You or No One
2. Jazz for All Occasions
3. L&T
4. Nina Never Knew / Indian Summer
5. Sometime Ago
6. Poor Butterfly
7. Centerpiece
8. Too Late Now
9. Hortense
10. On the Alamo
personel:
Bob Sheppard - saksofon
Doug MacDonald - gitara
Carey Frank - Hammond B3
Ben Scholz - perkusja
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tekst prasowy:
Doug MacDonald’s latest release, Organisms,
features the veteran guitarist with an organ quartet and on unaccompanied solos
The inventive straight ahead jazz set, which is comprised of standards and three MacDonald originals, has spirited ensembles and tasteful solos from the guitarist, organist Carey Frank and tenor-saxophonist Bob Sheppard with stimulating support from drummer Ben Scholz.
A consistently swinging and inspired guitarist, Doug MacDonald can always be relied upon to contribute exciting solos that display his own voice within the jazz tradition. For his 14th album as a leader, he is joined by three rather impressive musicians. Organist Carey Frank has performed regularly with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Eric Marienthal, Jane Monheit, Bob Mintzer, the Phat Cat Swingers and several groups of his own. Drummer Ben Scholz has been in groups with such notables as the late Roy Hargrove, Esperanza Spalding, Buddy Guy, Bill Watrous and Aaron Neville. And Bob Sheppard, a wizard on virtually every reed instrument (he plays tenor exclusively on this project), has uplifted the music of Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Mike Stern, Michael and Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Billy Childs, Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell among many others,
Organisms opens with a medium-tempo version of “It’s You Or No One” which serves as a perfect introduction to the all-star group. The full unit is also in top form on the catchy “Jazz For All Occasions” (one of three MacDonald originals on the set), “L&T” (which begins with a mysterious theme before becoming a cooker), the Harry “Sweets” Edison blues “Centerpiece”, “Too Late Now” (a warm ballad that features some beautiful tenor playing), and “On The Alamo”, Sheppard sits out during a trio romp through “Sometime Ago”.
MacDonald is in the spotlight on the other selections (“Poor Butterfly”, “Hortense” and a concise medley of “Nina Never Knew” and “Indian Summer”) which feature him as an unaccompanied soloist who moves gracefully between single-note lines and sophisticated chords. He brings out the beauty of each melody while giving them his own special brand of swing.
Originally from Philadelphia, Doug MacDonald started out as a jazz guitarist in Hawaii, working with trombonist Trummy Young, altoist Gabe Balthazar, and Del Courtney at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. During a period in Las Vegas, he performed in lounges and showrooms with such greats as Joe Williams, trombonist Carl Fontana, and tenor-saxophonist Jack Montrose. He has been a fixture in Los Angeles for many years, playing with the big bands of Bill Holman, Ray Anthony, and John Clayton and with such classic performers as Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Buddy Rich, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, pianist Hank Jones and bassist Ray Brown.
Doug MacDonald has also frequently been heard as a leader with his own combos and his 13-piece ensemble The Jazz Coalition for whom he provides the arrangements. His many recordings range from big bands and the orchestral project Fourth Stream to his unaccompanied Solo Plus.
Inspired by such guitarists as Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Howard Roberts, and Wes Montgomery, Doug MacDonald has carved out his own warm place in jazz’s modern mainstream, creating music that is swinging, lively and fun.
Doug MacDonald Quartet Organisms
(Self Produced)
Street Date: February 19, 2019
Doug MacDonald-guitar, Carey Frank-Hammond B3 Organ,
Bob Sheppard-Tenor, Ben Scholz-Drums
