Search - Donald Byrd, Gigi Gryce :: Jazz Lab & Modern Jazz Perspective

Good disciplined stuff.

Des Francis | Winnipeg, MB CANADA | 09/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Viewing the jazz scene in New York circa 1955-60 is serious work. The level of activity was mind-boggling, and it's worth noting how well a lot of this material stands up 60 years later, unlike so much contemporaneous pop music -- much of which was an embarrassment 5 minutes after it was done.



While I was familiar with all the musicians on this double-album set, I didn't know much about the Jazz Lab. Well-executed rigour from Byrd & Gryce in their playing I had grown accustomed to; I also admired Gryce's arranging talents. But this workshop-style outfit -- yet another variation on Miles Davis' Nonet -- was something else again, with the bonus of Byrd's being a rather better trumpet player.



The blues cooker 'Blue Concept' stood out for me, as well as Gryce's superb arrangement of Benny Golson's 'Stablemates' (better, I think, than I've heard the composer do it).



In all, a very nice set with imaginative arrangements at a reasonable price. The re-mastering -- for 1995 -- is respectable. Recommended."