PREMIERA: "The Many Open Minds of Roger Kellaway"

Obchodzący w tym roku 80-urodziny znakomity pianista Roger Kellaway, w ciągu swej wieloletniej kariery miał okazję współpracować z największymi gwiazdami zarówno jazzu jak muzyki rock i pop: od Elvisa Presleya i Barbry Streisand, poprzez Vana Morrisona i Joni Mitchell, do Duke'a Ellingtona, Sonnyego Rollinsa, czy Bena Webstera.

1 listopada nakładem wytwórni IPO mającej w swym katalogu nagrania takich gigantów jak James Moody, Frank Weiss, Benny Golson i Hank Jones, ukazał się album "The Many Open Minds of Roger Kellaway".

Płyta zawiera materiał zarejestrowany w sierpniu 2010 roku w klubie The Jazz Bakery w Santa Monica w genialnym trio: Roger Kellaway (fortepian), Bruce Forman (gitara) i Dan Lutz (kontrabas).

Program koncertowego albumu złożony jest z nieśmiertelnych standardów jazzu Theloniousa Monka, Richarda Rodgersa, Sonny'ego Rollinsa, Paula Desmonda, Billy'ego Strayhorna, Cole Portera, oraz Juana Tizola i Duke'a Ellingtona.

Robert Ratajczak

LINK: recenzja płyty

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Roger Kellaway: The Many Open Minds of Roger Kellaway

CD 2019, IPO Recordings

1. 52nd Street Theme 

2. Have You Met Miss Jones 

3. Doxy 

4. Take Five 

5. Take The ‘A’ Train 

6. Night And Day 

7. Caravan 

personel: 

Roger Kellaway - fortepian

Bruce Forman - gitara

Dan Lutz - kontrabas

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materiały prasowe:

The Brilliant Virtuosic Pianist

Roger Kellaway Teams Up With Guitarist Bruce Forman And Bassist Dan Lutz

To Create Musical Magic

Roger Kellaway, who turns 80 this year, has had a career that is difficult to equal, working with everyone from Duke Ellington to Barbara Streisand, Elvis Presley to Yo-Yo Ma, and Sonny Rollins and Ben Webster to Bobby Darin, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell among many others. Few artists ever have excelled at playing with such a wide variety of major artists. In recent times, he has returned to his first love, straight ahead jazz. Kellaway, who has long had his own unique personality, always infuses his playing with wit, adventure, and an unpredictable spirit. He is capable of playing in many styles yet can also outswing nearly anyone. 

 The Many Open Minds Of Roger Kellaway, which is regared as a major event, is being released by IPO, a label that has put out invaluable recordings by many jazz giants including saxophonists James Moody, Frank Wess, and Benny Golson, and pianists Roland Hanna and Hank Jones along with notable albums that paid tribute to the compositions of Thad Jones and Tom McIntosh. IPO has long made his focus on classic modern jazz players, veterans who came of age during the 15 years after World War II. and lent their original voices to jazz. IPO’s catalog is filled with treasures from those masters.

Recorded live at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, The Many Open Minds Of Roger Kellaway teams the pianist with guitarist Bruce Forman (a superb bebop player) and bassist Dan Lutz. While they perform seven familiar jazz standards, their renditions are anything but predictable. The set begins with what used to be a closing theme during the bebop era, Thelonious Monk’s “52nd Street Theme”. The group at first sounds a little like the King Cole Trio due to having the same instrumentation and a tight arrangement but, once the pianist takes over, it is obvious that it could be no one but Kellaway. “Have You Met Miss Jones” begins with a picturesque piano introduction and then becomes a medium-tempo romp, highlighted by a heated piano-guitar tradeoff. Kellaway really tears into “Doxy”, recalling Oscar Peterson a bit with his chordal work and really adding to the excitement during his second solo. “Take Five”, which is given a hard-swinging rhythm, and a surprisingly slow version of “Take The ‘A’ Train” (before it goes into double-time) sound unlike any other interpretations and are filled with stunning runs from Kellaway. An infectious “Night And Day” and an uptempo “Caravan” conclude the memorable set.

 Roger Kellaway grew up listening to both jazz and classical music He was a professional musician by the time he was in high school, not only on piano but as a bassist. He worked with Dixieland bands, moved to New York in 1960, and has a very busy career ever since. Along the way he accompanied comedian Jack E. Leonard, appeared on over 250 jazz recordings, composed commissioned pieces for many of the world’s leading classical orchestras, written 29 film scores, composed the famous theme song for All In The Family (“Remembering You”), been the musical director for Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Barbara Streisand and Van Morrison, and uplifted a countless number of musical ensembles. Even 57 years after his recording debut with Mark Murphy, Kellaway has lost none of his creativity, superb technical skills or enthusiasm. He is one of the very few remaining figures from jazz’s “golden age” who is still playing at his prime. The Many Open Minds Of Roger Kellaway features the pianist at his very best.