Search - John Mcneil, Bill McHenry :: Rediscovery

Jazz is a music of interaction among musicians, listeners, and the past. Succeeding generations of artists rediscover, reinvent and reinterpret what their musical ancestors have laid down before them. And this eternal circle of investigation and renewal gives the music its perennial ability to remain current.

That ability is on display on Rediscovery, the brilliant new CD by trumpeter John McNeil and tenor saxophonist Bill McHenry. They front a formidable piano-less quartet with bassist Joe Martin and drummer Jochen Rueckert, that revives a half-dozen compositions from the forties and late fifties; an era that saw the transition from bebop to the so-called cool school, west coast, and hard bop idioms. This recording is an outgrowth of this foursome s live gigs, which were inspired by the music of McNeil s former employer, baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, who played in the historic Miles Davis/Gil Evans-led Birth of the Cool sessions, and was co-leader of a pioneering quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker. The music of pianist Russ Freeman, who also worked with Baker, also forms a significant part of their repertoire.

According to Ben Ratliff of the New York Times, McNeil and McHenry definitely hit the swing spot during live performances. Mr. McNeil played ideas, cruising from figure to figure, using advanced ways to approach harmony; he has a dry, even-toned projection that you could compare to Chet Baker, if you wanted to. Mr. McHenry was looser, with more attitude, more flamboyance and grit, and more brusque silences. Still, in his tone and his easy-to-follow soloing style, he suggested Lester Young more than anyone.

Save for the leader-composed, almost avant-garde, free title tune and Time Travel, which open and close the CD, the group unearths a treasure chest of well known and less-than-well-known gems. Freeman s Band Aid, and Happy Little Sunbeam (named for Freeman s car), swing with streamlined syncopation. Godchild, is a lilting and loving 2.0 version of pianist George Wallington s Birth of the Cool chestnut, while Mulligan s Soft Shoe, a mainstay in the Mulligan/Baker band book, recorded by saxophonist Stan Getz and trumpeter Jon Eardley, is downloaded with new improvisational impressions for the digital age. The Fred Ahlert/Roy Turk ballad/standard, Moonlight in Vermont, is reinvigorated with the romance that made it a big hit for vocalist Irene Dunne, Harry James and others. The little-known hard-bop trumpeter Wilbur Harden contributes the evocatively titled Rhodomagnetics which takes its title from Jack Williamson s sci-fi novel The Humanoids. This odd tune, from a 1958 Savoy session with Coltrane as a sideman, features some trading eights exchanges between McNeil and McHenry. Off Shore a quirky pop ditty by harmonica virtuoso Leo Diamond, gets a new workout, while trumpeter Danny Hayes s Marvos Manny, a break tune named for saxophonist/flautist Manny Boyd, is as straight a blues chaser as they come.