Search - Alphonse Mouzon :: Live in Hollywood

Cool live Cd!

drummernik | 12/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Drummer,producer and composer Alphonse Mouzon had the idea to arrange his smooth Jazz songs into straightahead Jazz - "Live In Hollywood" is the result of that idea and it is convincingly.
Although the drum sound is not perfect ( the bass drum is very boomy, which is annoying during the drumsolos), you can still listen to an exciting evening full with exiting music and exciting musicians.
Just turn down the bass a little.The quintet consists of 4 top LA musicians Sal Marquez on trumpet, Chuck Manning on sax, David Goldblatt on piano and Dave Enos on bass + the legendary Alphonse Mouzon on drums.
The set starts with the powerful latin Mouzon classic "Baker's Daughter". While David Goldblatt takes an exciting solos Mouzon swings hard. At the end of the tune there's the first Mouzon drumsolo.
The second cut is a beautiful redo of "As you wish", the title track of his 1989 album. The band just fits together perfectly, Manning takes a charming solo and Mouzon knows how to accompany with great taste.The next song is defenetely one of the killer cuts of the Cd - *the* Mouzon classic "Pooblie" which was recorded numerous times. Mouzon knows how to funk and swing at the same time without becoming flashy and he let's g stratch out the solists. Sal Marquez takes my personal favorite solo of the Cd on "Pooblie". Yes, those guys had fun while playing it!
Oh well, and then there's this very funky bass solo by Dave Enos, while Alphonse Mouzon rolls his bass drum. Just exciting!On "A Waltz for Emma" Alphonse Mouzon unpackes his brushes, but changes to sticks numerous times.
"All that Jazz", which was previously released on "The Survivor", is a great swingin' tune which features an incredible sax solo by Chuck Manning and Mouzon swings with brushes & sticks. And Dave Enos honors us with a great bass solo - Mouzon seems to be all over his drums&cymbals once again without being flashy.
"Anticipation", aslo previously released on "The Survivor" features great solos by all musicians, especially by Sal Marquez who absolute kicks ass with his solo.
"The Funky Waltz", originally composed by Mouzon for the major fusion band of the 70s, The 11th House, is another outstanding cut. It reminds me of a fog. It sounds partwise dangerous, especially during the muted trumpete solo. Alphonse does some great work with his two snare drums and he takes an exciting drumsolo which makes all mice come out of their holes.
David Goldblatt convinces with a great piano solo. "If Tomorrow Comes", which is one of my favorite Alphonse Mouzon songs of all time, is arranged perfectly to some funky straightahead Jazz which never misses the swinging element. Chuck Manning's sax really sounds like 'if tomorrow comes...' to me - a lot of feeling. Once again there's a great Sal Marquez solo, an absolutely cool Chuck Manning solo and an amazing David Goldblatt solo. Alphonse Mouzon is all over his drums and bashes the maximum groove out of it."Allison" dedicated to Alphonse's wife, is charming from the beginning to the end and the final cut "One More Time" which is bluesy and swings hardcore is also a killer cut of the Cd. It has Sal Marquez, Chuck Manning, David Goldblatt and Dave Enos taking "on the top" solos. Alphonse explodes a few times during the song, mainly once during every solo. Dave Enos bass solo is just tasty and once again Alphonse knows how to swing in the background.
Just wonderful interactions between the solists and Alphonse during every solo.
It's just like every musician would say: "Thank you Alphonse, for that smoking evening!""