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The very best of DAVE GRUSIN Verve 589 280-2

1. Modaji
2. Playera
3. Bossa Boroque
4. Early A.M. Attitude
5. Punta del Soul
6. My Man’s Gone
7. Fascinating Rhythm
8. Take the A Train
9. Caravan
10. Baby Elephant Walk
11. Peter Gunn

This album is a compilation of Dave Grusin’s work over a twenty-year span from 1977 to 1999. Dave’s work as arranger, MD and pianist with the GRP Big Band marked him out for me as someone very special. Since then I have bought a number of his albums, two of which Homage to Duke and Two for the Road are the albums tracks 8,9,10&11 come from.

Tracks 1&2 come from the 1977 One of a Kind album which had Grover Washington on Soprano, and a large string section. Both pieces are quite long and moody, but well worth listening to carefully; track 2 has some excellent bass playing from Ron Carter.

Bossa Baroque shows off Dave’s skills on Synthesisers, he is just as at home with these instruments as he is at the concert grand piano, this track is from the Night-Lines CD of 1983. Rubens Bassini, the percussionist is the only other musician on this track, everything else is played by Dave. Early AM Attitude is a Grusin composition from 1984 and this track also features Lee Ritenour on Guitars.

Punta del Soul another Grusin composition has Branford Marsalis on Soprano and his style seems to fit well with that of the leader to produce a very relaxed and swinging performance. My Man’s Gone and Fascinatin' Rhythm come from The Gershwin Collection album of 1991, the former has a front line of Sal Marquez (trumpet) and Eric Marienthal (alto) whilst the latter has Garry Burton on Vibes, both have John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weekl on drums.

Take The A Train and Caravan are from the excellent Homage to Duke album, The A Train has an unusual instrumentation with 3 French Horns and Tuba. Caravan has Dave in excellent form with a trio. The last two tracks are from the Two for the Road CD and they are both excellent arrangements will played. Check out the great Marienthal solo on Peter Gunn!

This really is a ‘best of’ album and I strongly recommend it to those who like modern music well played by one of to-days top jazz artists,

Don Mather

 

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