Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads Holly Hofmann – Flutopia – Azica

by | Jan 26, 2011 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads JH1182, 56:26 [Distr. by Allegro] ****:
(Mark Weinstein – concert, alto & bass flutes; Kenny Barron – piano; Nilson Matta – bass; Marcello Peilitteri – drums & percussion)

Holly Hofmann – Flutopia – Azica AJD-72211, 57:23 ****:
(Holly Hofmann, flute; Frank Potenza, guitar; Bill Cunliffe, Hammond B-3, Duncan Moore, drums)

There’s not a lot of jazz flutists out there, and albums such as these two always catch my eye because I think it’s a terrific jazz instrument.  Mark Weinstein doesn’t limit his flute virtuosity to straight-ahead jazz, but is active in World Jazz – playing with musicians rooted in Afro-Cuban, African, Jewish, Indian and Brazilian traditions. This CD concentrates on the Brazilian, and in fact Weinstein has devoted two other CDs since 2005 to Brazilian jazz. He has done some important Afro-Cuban-influenced albums, but says he likes the greater looseness of the Brazilian jazz style, its harmonic richness, and its floating and swooping feeling.  He has brought in stellar pianist Kenny Barron and native Brazilian bassist Marcello Peilitteri.

Though the ten tracks include two from Jobim, and one from bassist Matta, several of the others are jazz numbers done in a bossa nova style. Weinstein contributes his own “Dawn’s Early Light,” and there are two Thelonious Monk classics plus Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti.”  I always enjoy the echt-Brazilian chestnut, Barroso’s “Brazil,” and Weinstein gives it a nearly seven-minute version that swings madly.  I also love the sexy sound of the bass flute – Weinstein turns to it on both Monk’s “Ruby My Dear,” and Herbie Mann’s funky “Memphis Underground.”

TrackList: I Mean You, Triste, Nefertiti, Brazil, Ruby My Dear, Sambosco, Dawn’s Early Light, Memphis Underground, If You Never Come to Me, Isotope.

Holly Hofmann is one of the top jazz flutists around today, and versatile pianist Bill Cunliffe has worked with her on a number of albums.  (One is just duets.) They collaborated on writing one of the nine tracks here, “Cleveburg” (the CD was recorded in Cleveland).  Cunliffe had switched from the piano keyboard to the B-3, and that fit this funky tune so well that they decided to do a whole album of this quartet with flute and B-3.  Cunliffe says that may be unique – I certainly haven’t seen any other such. The quartet is rounded out with guitarist Frank Potenza and drummer Duncan Moore.

In addition to the collaboration on “Cleveburg,” Hofmann and Cunliffe each contribute one track on the album. There is another Wayne Shorter vehicle, one from Horace Silver and Ellington’s “Satin Doll.”  Holly gets a luscious tone on ballads like “My One and Only Love,” but can really swing that flute when called for too.  I’m something of a B-3 fan, but I think after this CD I’m enjoying its charms when matched up with flute better than with sax!  The CD was recorded live to two-track, and both flute and B-3 sonics are excellent.

TrackList:
Flutopia, Nilesology, Tom Thumb, Listen Up, My One and Only Love, Further Adventures, Satin Doll, Cleveburg, Out of the Night.

— John Henry

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