Jason Miles: To Grover, With Love/Live In Japan

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Ralph MacDonald
Gerald Veasley
Buddy Williams
Ryan Shaw
Nicky Moroch
Jason Miles (ky)
Eric Darius
Andy Snitzer

Label:

Whaling City Sound

May/2016

Catalogue Number:

WCS078

RecordDate:

June 2010

Many people were touched by the sound of saxophonist Grover Washington Jr, and none more so than keyboardist/producer Jason Miles. This nine-track album is his third tribute to the late musician and is dominated by tunes from Washington's Winelight and Mr Magic sets, including the title tracks, ‘Take Me There’ and ‘Just The Two Of Us’ (which features Ryan Shaw on vocals). Miles wanted to recreate the vibe and feel of the New York jazz clubs of the 1970s and has succeeded – there's an energy and intensity, both in the band's performance and the audience reaction to it. Saxophonists Darius and Snitzer step into Washington's shoes and more than rise to the challenge, while the rhythm section of Veasley, Williams and MacDonald (who died the following year) sounds formidable. Guitarist Nicky Moroch's taut, angular lines enrich the mix, while Miles spends most of the time supporting and comping, save an extended solo on ‘Inner City Blues’. The many highlights include ‘Black Frost’, which combines gutsy sax playing with call-and-response sections with guitar and keyboard; the exquisite sax sound on ‘Sassy Stew’, ‘Loran's Dance’, which highlights Moroch's guitar and Veasley's bass, and the 12-minute ‘Let It Flow (For Dr J)’, where Veasley solos again and MacDonald delivers an extended conga workout at the coda. The encore, an exuberant version of ‘Mr Magic’, has Darius and Snitzer trading fours and everyone playing a brief solo. During the show, Miles states that Grover Washington's music “will live on forever”. Albums like this will certainly help keep that legacy alive.

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