Art Van Damme (1920-2010) był jednym z najwybitniejszych amerykańskich akordeonistów, a zarazem jednym z pionierów szerokiego zastosowania akordeonu w muzyce jazzowej. W roku 1947 powołał do życia własną grupę zainspirowaną estetyką muzyczną Kwintetu George'a Shearinga, w której jednak fortepian zastąpił akordeonem. Na przestrzeni 35 lat Art Van Damme Quintet dał setki koncertów oraz zrealizował wiele nagrań, które dziś postrzegane są jako kamienie milowe na drodze osiągnięcia przez akordeon miana pełnoprawnego instrumentu w jazzowych składach.
Jednym z uczniów Arta Van Damme jest aranżer, kompozytor, pianista i oczywiście znakomity akordeonista Kenny Kotwitz. Intensywnie działający na muzycznej scenie Los Angeles od połowy lat 60-tych muzyk, ma za sobą współpracę z takimi osobistościami jak m.in. Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown czy właśnie Art Van Damme, z którym w 1983 roku nagrał album "Art Van Damme and Friends".
Przypadającą w tym roku 100-rocznicę urodzin Arta Van Damme Kenny Kotwitz postanowił uhonorować płytą utrzymaną w klimacie dokonań swego przyjaciela i mentora.
Album "When Lights Are Low" firmowany szyldem Kenny Kotwitz & The LA Jazz Quintet przynosi zbiór kilkunastu tematów z "żelaznej klasyki" repertuaru Art Van Damme Quintet, w nowych świeżych opracowaniach Kenny'ego Kotwitza. Znajdziemy tu takie kompozycje jak m.in: "Skylark", "Cry Me A River", "Mood Indigo" czy "Stairway To The Stars".
Wraz z liderem grającym na akordeonie i celeście, zespół tworzą John Chiodini (gitary), Nick Mancini (wibrafon), Chuck Berghofer (kontrabas) i Kendall Kay (instr.perkusyjne).
Jednym z uczniów Arta Van Damme jest aranżer, kompozytor, pianista i oczywiście znakomity akordeonista Kenny Kotwitz. Intensywnie działający na muzycznej scenie Los Angeles od połowy lat 60-tych muzyk, ma za sobą współpracę z takimi osobistościami jak m.in. Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown czy właśnie Art Van Damme, z którym w 1983 roku nagrał album "Art Van Damme and Friends".
Przypadającą w tym roku 100-rocznicę urodzin Arta Van Damme Kenny Kotwitz postanowił uhonorować płytą utrzymaną w klimacie dokonań swego przyjaciela i mentora.
Album "When Lights Are Low" firmowany szyldem Kenny Kotwitz & The LA Jazz Quintet przynosi zbiór kilkunastu tematów z "żelaznej klasyki" repertuaru Art Van Damme Quintet, w nowych świeżych opracowaniach Kenny'ego Kotwitza. Znajdziemy tu takie kompozycje jak m.in: "Skylark", "Cry Me A River", "Mood Indigo" czy "Stairway To The Stars".
Wraz z liderem grającym na akordeonie i celeście, zespół tworzą John Chiodini (gitary), Nick Mancini (wibrafon), Chuck Berghofer (kontrabas) i Kendall Kay (instr.perkusyjne).
Album ukazał się 1 sierpnia.
Robert Ratajczak
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Kenny Kotwitz & The LA Jazz Quintet: When Lights Are Low
CD 2020, PM Records TS CA ST-1022235
program:
1. When Lights Are Low
2. Skylark
3. Cry Me A River
4. Estate Summer
5. When Sunny Gets Blue
6. Crazy She Calls Me
7. Darn That Dream
8. Harlem Nocturne
9. Manhattan
10. Mood Indigo
11. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
12. Stairway To The Stars
13. When Lights Are Low (Reprise)
personel:
Kenny Kotwitz - akordeon, celesta
John Chiodini - gitary
Nick Mancini - wibrafon
Chuck Berghofer - kontrabas
Kendall Kay - perkusja, instr.perkusyjne
CD 2020, PM Records TS CA ST-1022235
program:
1. When Lights Are Low
2. Skylark
3. Cry Me A River
4. Estate Summer
5. When Sunny Gets Blue
6. Crazy She Calls Me
7. Darn That Dream
8. Harlem Nocturne
9. Manhattan
10. Mood Indigo
11. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
12. Stairway To The Stars
13. When Lights Are Low (Reprise)
personel:
Kenny Kotwitz - akordeon, celesta
John Chiodini - gitary
Nick Mancini - wibrafon
Chuck Berghofer - kontrabas
Kendall Kay - perkusja, instr.perkusyjne
_______________________________________________
materiały prasowe:
This recording is dedicated to Art Van Damme (1920-2010), who would have been 100 years old this year. Having led the way and defined the use of accordion in Jazz, the unique sound of Art’s quintet is easily recognizable. This is thanks to the combined gifts of his accordion with the vibraphone, guitar, bass and drums, and Lew Skalinder’s wonderful arrangements.
A few years ago producer Peter Maxymych, a big fan of the Art Van Damme Quintet, organized a group to bring back the classic sound for The Montreal Sessions. That release featured one of Van Damme’s few students, accordionist Kenny Kotwitz. Now, in the centennial of Van Damme’s birth, the LA Jazz Quintet has been organized with Kotwitz providing colorful arrangements in addition to his accordion.
Filled with studio and jazz veterans, each of whom have an endless number of credits, the LA Jazz Quintet consists of Kotwitz, guitarist John Chiodini, vibraphonist Nick Mancini, bassist Chuck Berghofer, and drummer Kendall Kay. Although all of the musicians are superior soloists, the emphasis throughout "When Lights Are Low" is on the sound of the ensemble, the blend between the instruments, and relaxed tempos.
The inventive and subtle arrangements have the melodic lead passed between the accordion, vibes, guitar and bass in seamless fashion. Among the songs that the group revives and uplifts are Benny Carter’s “When Lights Are Low”, “Skylark” (performed as a jazz waltz), “Cry Me A River”, “Crazy She Calls Me”, “Darn That Dream”, “Harlem Nocturne”, and “Mood Indigo”. Each performance leads logically to the next one with the atmospheric and often-haunting ensemble sound of the LA Jazz Quintet in the forefront.
Art Van Damme (1920–2010) was the pacesetter among jazz accordionists. He was on the staff of NBC for 15 years and in 1947 began leading a group that was inspired by the George Shearing Quintet but with his accordion in place of the piano. Over its 35-year existence, the Art Van Damme Quintet made dozens of popular recordings.
Kenny Kotwitz, who learned directly from Van Damme, became a busy studio musician in Los Angeles in 1966 and, in addition to his work on accordion, has been an arranger-composer and pianist in a countless number of settings. He has worked with the likes of Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, and Joe Venuti, leading several records of his own, and recording the 1983 album "Art Van Damme and Friends" with his idol.
"When Lights Are Low" is a delightful and mellow outing that one could easily imagine Art Van Damme enjoying.
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| Kenny Kotwitz |
The inventive and subtle arrangements have the melodic lead passed between the accordion, vibes, guitar and bass in seamless fashion. Among the songs that the group revives and uplifts are Benny Carter’s “When Lights Are Low”, “Skylark” (performed as a jazz waltz), “Cry Me A River”, “Crazy She Calls Me”, “Darn That Dream”, “Harlem Nocturne”, and “Mood Indigo”. Each performance leads logically to the next one with the atmospheric and often-haunting ensemble sound of the LA Jazz Quintet in the forefront.
Art Van Damme (1920–2010) was the pacesetter among jazz accordionists. He was on the staff of NBC for 15 years and in 1947 began leading a group that was inspired by the George Shearing Quintet but with his accordion in place of the piano. Over its 35-year existence, the Art Van Damme Quintet made dozens of popular recordings.
Kenny Kotwitz, who learned directly from Van Damme, became a busy studio musician in Los Angeles in 1966 and, in addition to his work on accordion, has been an arranger-composer and pianist in a countless number of settings. He has worked with the likes of Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, and Joe Venuti, leading several records of his own, and recording the 1983 album "Art Van Damme and Friends" with his idol.
"When Lights Are Low" is a delightful and mellow outing that one could easily imagine Art Van Damme enjoying.
