Search - Brian Trio Trainor & Friends :: Monk & Me

Monk And Me

07/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pianist Brian Trainor salutes Thelonious Monk by interpreting four of the legendary artist's compositions and supplying several of his own. Choosing to work with his piano trio on most tracks (bassist Vince Fay and drummer Bill Jones), the native of Trenton, New Jersey catches fire with a percussive approach that honors both Monk's quirky piano style and his unpredictable compositions. Guest trumpeter John Swana opts for electronic valve instrument on "Hackensack." Fitting the role and range of a floating soprano saxophone, he blends with the quartet, offering a timbre similar to that of an electronic keyboard. Stiff and lacking overtones, Swana drives, nevertheless, with a trumpeter's phrasing and attack. Veterans Richie Cole and Steve Marcus trade fours to begin and end "Well You Needn't," leaving the in-between for an inspired Trainor piano tirade. The pianist picks up similar inspiration for "Straight, No Chaser," the session's high point. A dedication is made to the annual Cape May Jazz Festival in Cape May, New Jersey. With his impressionistic composition, Trainor captures an image of freeway driving, except that this particular freeway never slows. The two mixes at the end of the album are nearly identical to the related tracks heard earlier on; just extended in length through added solo space. While Trainor turns up the heat in spots, the session remains uneven through pitch problems on the portrait to Mother Teresa and "Still We Dream," reducing the effectiveness of this well-intended tribute. Track Listing: Let's Cool One; Hackensack; Bernstein's Girl; Monk & Me; Cape May Freeway; Face Intro; One Face, One Smile, One Heart (Portrait of Mother Teresa); Still We Dream (Ugly Beauty); Straight, No Chaser; B's Waltz; Well You Needn't; Again To This Star; Cape May Freeway (Rush Hour Mix); Monk & Me (Me & Monk Mix). Collective Personnel: Brian Trainor- piano; Vince Fay, Tyrone Brown, Gary Mazzaropi- bass; Bill Jones, Jeff Jerolamon, Jim Miller- drums; Steve Marcus- tenor saxophone on "Let's Cool One," "Still We Dream" and "Well You Needn't;" Richie Cole- alto saxophone on "Let's Cool One" and "Well You Needn't;" John Swana- E.V.I. on "Hackensack;" Kelly Rodrigues- vocal on "Still We Dream.""

Not-So-Objective Reviewer

Kelly Rodrigues | Oceanside, CA USA | 11/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is Brian Trainor's break-out as a composer. What he began with his first Album, "Wind, Water, Stone", matures into stunningly complex jazz compositions. Brian masters Monk's tunes without copying, adding his own ideas, taking the performances to a new level. Anyone who has seen Brian perform live knows that his heart and soul flow through each and every cut. Brian's second album, "Portraits" on the Candid label, is the transition from his earlier work to "Monk & Me", again mixing standards with complex and haunting jazz compositions. "Cup of Joe For Lost Friends" is a gem that makes me cry each time I hear it.I can recommend "Monk & Me" because I was there for its inception and birth - I know what it took to create and perform this music. I'm the vocalist on the 'Still We Dream' cut. There is a story behind that particular performance.So, I guess I can hardly have an objective opinion of the work done on "Monk & Me", but I do know that since its release, this album has been added to more and more playlists as standard repertoire - the other artists; Steve Marcus, Richie Cole, John Swana, Tyrone Brown, Gary Mazzaropi, Jeff Jerolamon, and Jimmy Miller are spectacular, talented musicians.Brian's newest album, "Tangled Roots" will be released on the Summit label (as is "Monk & Me") in February of 2003. The music is entirely composed by Brian.Give them both a try."