Album Review: Heart Mind and Soul from Randy Bernsen

-

Album:  Heart Mind and Soul
Artist:  Randy Bernsen
Label: Jerico Jams
Website:  randybernsen.com

Randy Bernsen exerts his prowess as a lyrical composer and versatile guitarist with this six-track release, Heart Mind and Soul, his 11th project as a leader.  The melodic motifs, as though glass-blown from his guitar, are scaffold by the clarion toots of saxophonists Bob Mintzer and Bob Franceschini, interspersed by the sleek flickers of Dan Davis's trumpet.  The rhythm section comprised of bass player Jimmy Haslip, drummer David Nizri, and keyboardists George Whitty and Uzi Nizri complement the harmonic forms.

The octet create multifaceted soundscapes, parlaying an assortment of jazz fusion blends from smooth jazz clauses, bop-induced lobes, and improvised excursions.  Bernsen inseminates sizzling streaks across"Chant 881," giving the score a shot of spontaneity as his improvised fragments form unrestrained ruptures and agile curves along its progression.  The smooth jazz sonorous of his guitar form glass-blown fabrications, branding "Shepherd's Heart" with a pensive mood, then guiding the soft dripping toots of the horns inserted along "Prodigal Son" to produce reefs of cushiony glimmers.

“Abba Father” is raftered by Bernsen’s stylized musings etched into his melodic clauses, punctuated by the glinting doodles of Uzi Nizri's keys, dancing with a gracefulness that captivates the listener.  Bernsen sears funky raptures along "Billy Gate Blues," giving the track a gritty blues tone blended with a bopping beat for a whirling jazz fusion effect, while "With You Always" has a balmy atmosphere bolstered by the tuneful emanations from his guitar riffs.

Calling South Florida home, guitarist-composer-leader Randy Bernsen is a master at creating glass-blown figments from his guitar, scaffold by flavorful textures.  The music has a harmonious slant wherever Bernsen takes the audience.

Musicians:
Randy Bernsen - guitar
Bob Mintzer - saxophone
Bob Franceschini - saxophone
Jimmy Haslip - bass
Dan Davis - trumpet
George Whitty - keyboards
Uzi Nizri - keyboards
David Nizri - drums

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: This Could Be The Start from Linda Purl

-
Image
Album: This Could Be The Start Artist:  Linda Purl Label: Reaching Records Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com Vocalist Linda Purl and her music director Tedd Firth come together for their fourth album, This Could Be the Start .  The collection contains Purl's reimagination of a handful of jazz standards, tailored to her vocal specifications.  Supported by an intimate cadre of musicians that include bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchica and reed player Nelson Rangell, Purl finesses a selection of Great American Songbook jewels with a contemporary sheen. The playful merengue rhythm driving "Blue Moon," a swinging romp written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is trussed in Ray Marchica's percolating percussion and a profusion of jutting keys performed by Ted Firth.  The track steps out of the customary schematics of swing jazz bolstered by blues vocals and articulates a Latin-imbued tremor.  The bossa nova curves shaping one of Cole Porter's signature pieces,
Read more

Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-
Image
Album:  The Ways In Artist:  James Zollar Label:  Label: JZAZ Records Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments. The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trom
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr
Read more