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RON CARTER QUINTET My Funny Valentine/Live in Spain JAZZ DOOR DVD JD 11054

1. Medley: Jazz and Bossa
2. My Funny Valentine
3. You and The Night and the Music

Ron Carter (bass)
Stephen Scott (piano)
Guilherme Montiero (guitar)
Rolando Morales-Matos (percussion)
Payton Crossley (drums)

Rec. live at the XII Festival Internacional de Jazz de San Javier, Auditorio Parque Almansa, San Savier, Murcia, Spain, July 2009
NTSC; 4:3; Colour

 

Carter's benevolent presence offers support as deep as an oak. His group, dressed crisply in suits and matching red ties, was recorded in concert in San Savier in Spain in July 2009, and this DVD captures the event with fidelity. Carter plays mostly with shut eyes, whilst around him busy support is offered by percussionist Morales-Matos and the group. Direction comes from the bassist-leader's brisk nods, as they circumnavigate the long opening medley, which is mostly given over to Bossa; they play six tunes in all, segueing from one to another. Occasionally one catches Carter's gentle smile-notably during the exchanges between Payton Crossly and guitarist Guilherme Montiero. All the members of the band, fortunately, are featured throughout this three quarters of an hour opener.

Pianist Stephen Scott's best moments come in his long and very romantic solo during My Funny Valentine and then after, when his drifting harmonies add a new gloss on an old tune. After a brief Carter interjection Scott unleashes a grandstanding Railroad boogie, and an Errol Garner pastiche that pleased me, even if it might not please a sterner critic. The final track is the fourteen minute You and The Night and the Music. If you're a fan of long drum and percussion solos, here is your moment to savour the virtuosity clearly on view but which is, to me, deadening.

Nevertheless the audience gave the band generous applause for their set. Carter is one of the venerable older statesmen of the music and is still playing excellently. His diligent band plays well, if occasionally indulgently. There are no extras and the booklet has no additional information.

Jonathan Woolf

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