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Concert: Lew Soloff
Thursday, 5:15pm
Joseph Bowman, Reviewer
An enthusiastic crowd greeted jazz trumpeter Lew Soloff and the SUNY Purchase Faculty Nonet in a concert tribute to the Miles Davis/Gil Evans cool jazz period. Soloff was assisted ably by Charles Blenzig, piano; Todd Coolman, bass; John Riley, drums; Jim Pew, trombone; Fred Griffen, horn; Karl Kramer, tuba; Jay Brandford, alto sax; and Gary Smulyan, baritone sax. Soloff began the concert by dedicating the performance to Davis because the concert took place on his 74th birthday.
The group opened the concert with Jeru by Gerry Mulligan. Soloff displayed his ability to play incredible melodies in all ranges. Gary Smulyan followed with a smooth bari sax solo. Next came a Miles Davis piece entitled Deception, which began with a wonderful groove by the Purchase faculty rhythm section. Soloff played a solo that made great use of pauses in the melody lines. Jim Pugh added an energetic trombone solo that got the crowd shouting. Budo, a piece by Bud Powell followed and once again featured a screaming Soloff solo as well as great choruses by Gary Smulyan, Jay Brandford, and Jim Pugh.
The next piece, Godchild by George Wallington showcased Soloff's lyrical solo playing. Soloff used many glissandos, lip bends, and turns. Rocker by Mulligan featured solos by Soloff, Brandford, and Smulyan. A lovely ballad entitled Moon Dreams by Mercer and Evans showcased Soloff's wonderful tone color and great ensemble work. The crowd became reenergized with Israel by Corisi featuring solos by Soloff, Charles Blenzig, Pugh, and Brandford. This was followed by Rouge, a John Lewis piece, and Boblicity, a Miles Davis piece which bass Todd Coolman related is officially listed as being composed by Cleo Henry, Davis' maternal grandmother. The concert finished with Venus de Milo by Mulligan and a Denzil Best burner titled Move featuring Soloff in a blazing high-note solo followed by a drum solo with John Riley. An enthusiastic crowd and motivated musicians made this concert a memorable event for all involved. (Joseph Bowman, D.M.A. student, Arizona State University) |
