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Jazz Club: Tom Harrell
Friday, May 26 10:00 p.m.
Frank Campos, Reviewer
Members of the jazz trumpet community have known about Tom Harrell for more than 25 years, but only recently has he begun to receive the attention and acclaim he deserves. Harrell has been named the Downbeat magazine reader's poll Trumpeter of the Year for four years running, and he was awarded a Grammy nomination in 1999 for Time's Mirror. The Art of Rhythm was chosen as Entertainment Weekly's Best Jazz Album of the Year in 1998.
Harrell began composing as early as fifth grade and his writing and arranging skills are considered to be on the same level as his improvising. Those fortunate enough to attend his concert were treated to several of his own tunes including Scene? and the heartbreakingly beautiful Sail Away, a song that has already become a modern standard. Also included on the program were up-tempo renditions of Charlie Parker's Au Privave? and Thelonious Monk's Rhythm-A-Ning. Joining him on the bandstand were SUNY Purchase jazz studies professors Charles Blenzig on piano, Doug Munro on guitar, and Todd Coolman on bass. Drummer Jason Alexander is a recent graduate of SUNY Purchase.
Although his lifelong struggle with schizophrenia is well documented, he creates a presence on stage that invites the listener to close their eyes and discover the depth of this modern giant. Harrell's extremely melodic and coherent lines reflect the influence of early idol Clifford Brown, but the most notable quality in his playing is its absolute honesty. There is no flash or artifice here Harrell speaks directly to the heart as purely as anyone who ever picked up a trumpet. Harrell's harmonic conception is quite complex but it is always at the service of the beautiful and seemingly simple lines he weaves. It is no wonder that alto sax master Phil Woods said that Tom Harrell is "The best musician I've encountered in 40 years of playing music." Living legend Elvin Jones stated "Tom Harrell is a genius." There may be jazz fans who have not heard Tom Harrell's music. If you know of anyone in this category, get them to a CD store! (Frank Campos, professor of trumpet, Ithaca College) |
