The Jimmy Amadie Trio – Kindred Spirits – TP Recordings

by | May 14, 2010 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The Jimmy Amadie Trio – Kindred Spirits – TP Recordings TPR 1/23/65, 54:09 ****:

(Jimmy Amadie – piano, producer; Lee Konitz – alto saxophone (tracks 2, 7); Joe Lovano – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8); Lew Tabackin – tenor saxophone, flute (tracks 3, 4); Tony Marino – bass (tracks 1, 3-6, 8); Steve Gilmore – bass (tracks 2, 7); Bill Goodwin – drums)

There’s a story behind every album and musician, including Jimmy Amadie and his seventh outing, Kindred Spirits. The hardship, pain and arduous setbacks to the pianist’s career would make a fascinating movie: in fact a documentary is in the works.

Amadie could be nicknamed The Comeback Kid without irony. In the 1950s, Amadie worked with Mel Tormé, Woody Herman and Red Rodney but in 1960 extreme tendinitis afflicted Amadie’s hands and kept him from the keyboard for decades, so he turned to music education and wrote instructional books. After three decades and several surgeries, Amadie resurfaced with his belated 1995 debut. More adversity occurred following Amadie’s sixth album, The Philadelphia Story, with an once-in-a-lifetime lineup: Benny Golson, Randy Brecker and Lew Tabackin. Soon after the record came out, Amadie was diagnosed with lung cancer. He bravely fought back and endured a year of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. What got Amadie through it all was his determination to walk back into the studio and put more music on tape.

The hard-won result is Kindred Spirits, another all-star project that once more includes Tabackin along with contributions from two other talented saxophonists, Lee Konitz and Joe Lovano. Amadie again teams up with his longtime partner, drummer Bill Goodwin, previous trio bassist Steve Gilmore – who is heard on two cuts – and first time trio member Tony Marino.

Listening to the eight pieces – five Amadie originals and three covers – there is no sign of the drama that took place prior to the three sessions that comprise the nearly hour-long presentation.

There is a joie de vivre to the opener, a vigorous rendition of John Klemmer and Sam Lewis’ “Just Friends,” one of four tunes that feature Joe Lovano’s inviting tenor saxophone. Lovano also does his magic on Thelonious Monk’s “Well You Needn’t.” Listening to the classic – now over a half century old – is a testament to Lovano’s imagination and inventiveness as well as Amadie’s edifying keyboard skills. Amadie wrote two compositions specifically for Lovano that fit Lovano’s personality. Beautiful ballad “Life Is Worth Living” is a smooth number that brings out Lovano’s warmest tone. The musicians take time to explore Amadie’s melodic lines and the outcome is one of the finest selections. Lovano closes with the sprightly “A Samba For You,” a wonderfully joyful conclusion.

Konitz sensuously swings on “Lee Bossa/Lee Swing,” which obviously begins in a beguiling buoyant direction and effortlessly moves to a more contemporary cadence. Konitz showcases his lyrical gifts during a relaxed but swinging translation of Irving Caesar and Victor Youmans’ “I Want to Be Happy,” a choice vehicle for some also sax/piano collaborating.

Tabackin displays his active but unruffled tenor sax approach on the modal groover, “What Now,” which also highlights Goodwin’s cubic touch on cymbals and Amadie’s quick instincts. However, the real treat is “Blues for Thee ‘DV’,” where Tabackin switches to flute and demonstrates his soulful style: it’s not often that a flute pierces and slices like a sax and those familiar with Tabackin’s prowess know how amazing he can be.

TrackList:
1. Just Friends
2. Lee Bossa/Lee Swing
3. What Now
4. Blues for Thee “DV”
5. Well You Needn’t
6. Life Is Worth Living
7. I Want to Be Happy
8. A Samba For You

— Doug Simpson

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