Search - Kenny Davern :: Stretchin' Out

Davern & Wellstood in top form.

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 04/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This wonderful trio disc was recorded live in December 1983 and finds Davern and Wellstood in typically superb form. Having played together regularly since the 1960s, they enjoyed a rare degree of empathy which made their duet and trio work among the best chamber jazz recorded since the war. Highlights on this disc include Wellstood's solos in "The Man I Love", where he moves from McKenna-like single note bass work into some thrilling stride, and in "Love Me or Leave Me" where he demonstrates his harmonic adventurousness. Davern is magnificently intense in "Summertime", and the unfamiliar "Chicago Rhythm" is a vehicle for some delighful uptempo interplay - here them wittily exchanging fours towards the end. Chuck Riggs on drums suffers from the jazz drummers' fallacy - the belief that people want to hear what they are doing over and above the work of other instrumentalists. Riggs is both superfluous and too noisy, but with a little effort can be largely ignored. Sound recording is not of studio quality but is perfectly adequate.One caveat - the playing time is only 41 minutes. An LP "Live Hot Jazz" was issued on the defunct Statiras label of other tracks from this session, and it is a shame that Jazzology were not able to include those on this disc.Nevertheless, a very enjoyable outing by two of the greats of mainstream jazz. Strongly recommended."