Michael Wolff – Live at Vitellos – Sunnyside #SSC 1615 – 2011 – 45:55 – ****
(Michael Wolff – piano; Mark Isham – trumpet and flugelhorn; John B. Williams – bass; Mike Clark – drums)
For jazz fans there is nothing like being in a club listening to live music. The ambiance, acoustics, and the audience response that inspires the band, contribute to the “listening experience” that can not be replicated at home. Because of the pandemic, we have not been able to listen to live music for well over one year now. For now, the next best thing is hearing an exceptional live recording to whet our appetites for the return to in-person interactions with our jazz greats.
Sunnyside Records is providing such a service by releasing a live recording from Michael Wolff from the Vitellos Club, in Los Angeles, from 2011. With its superb acoustics, the feeling of “being there” is enticing. Wolff, a veteran pianist, has been on the jazz scene since the 1970s, and has recorded nearly 20 albums as a leader. He has also composed for film and television. For this live recording Wolff has Mark Isham on trumpet and flugelhorn; bassist, John B. Williams; and jazz funk legend, drummer, Mike Clark. Michael has recorded over the years with Clark, and has known and admired Isham, but the two had never recorded together before this recording.
Isham fits right in with Wolff, especially on the ballads, as Mark is known for his film and television scores, where his warm and burnished trumpet tone is always memorable. In the quartet, Isham’s contributions help the group go way beyond piano trio repertoire. The song selection, recorded over two nights in August. 2011, ranges from sublime ballads to post bop, funk, and fusion genres. Wolff’s piano choruses are invigorating, and swing hard. Bassist Williams provides a heartbeat steady foundation. Mike Clark, whose fame was cemented as the drummer for Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, is assertive throughout and gets lots of time to propel the group.
The CD opens with “Ballad Noir” and the title says it all. Isham and Wolff take us on a journey that that only needs a dark night, and an inquisitive hard nosed detective. “Lagniappe” is a whole ‘nother beast, an intense modal burner. Mike Clark takes charge, and Isham ups the ante with staccato bursts of brass.
“Fall,”one of two Wayne Shorter tunes, is reflective, with the quartet in a moderate mood. “Falling Down” gets into a funk mood before entering late period Miles Davis, led by Isham’s trumpet.
“The Conversation” brings back a film score ambiance, with some marvelous piano choruses from Michael, and again the warm brass timbre of Mark. Shorter’s classic “Nefertiti” shows the strength of the interplay between the quartet’s members. There is no “comping” here, and each musician is fully in the groove “communicating” with each other. The short closer, “Loft Funk,” is a feature for Mike Clark to stir the pot.
Ten year old music never sounded so fresh. Kudos to Sunnyside for bringing out this recording to help us prepare, for hopefully, being able to return to live club venues (this Summer?) fingers crossed…
Tracklist:
Ballad Noir
Lagniappe
Fall
Falling Down
The Conversation
Nefertiti
Loft Funk
—Jeff Krow
More information at Sunnyside Records website:
