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Reviewers: Tony Augarde [Editor], Don Mather, Sam Webster, Jonathan Woolf, Glyn Pursglove



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PETER ASPLUND QUARTET

As Knights Concur

Prophone PCD093

 

 

 


1. In a Pensive Place
2. Days of Wine and Roses
3. I Love You
4. Wonderyear
5. My Funny Valentine
6. The Prowlers
7. Sunny
8. On Green Dolphin Street
 
Peter Asplund – Trumpet, flugel
Jacob Karlzon – Piano
Hans Andersson – Bass
Johan Lofcrantz Ramsay – Drums 

Looking at the cover, I thought "I’m going to enjoy this one", but no such luck. It’s another record of musicians who have all the technique in the world, trying to be too clever. Henry Mancini liked his tunes played in the way he wrote them, so he would have had no chance with the Days of Wine and Roses! I Love You starts with an extended intro from bass and drums that at least swings, but do we get a theme statement of this terrific tune? - no. Mr Asplund gives us his interpretation of it, which is nowhere near as good as the original. 

On My Funny Valentine we get a beautiful theme statement of this Richard Rodgers classic, demonstrating just what a fine bunch of musicians Peter Asplund and his Quartet are. So why do they have to try to be so clever and play most tunes in a way that does not swing and is hard to understand? 

Another good track is Peter’s original composition The Prowlers. The rhythm section swings here and Peter plays an excellent solo. This track demonstrates for me what fine musicians these guys are, but why do they have to be too clever for their own or anybody else’s good at times?

On Green Dolphin Street gets a similar working over to I Love You in the first chorus, but thankfully the second chorus lets us hear this great standard in its full pomp. 

For me this record is like the curate's egg, good in parts. The musicians, however, are out of the top drawer.

Don Mather


 



 

 

 

 

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