The San Francisco ChamberJazz Quartet — SFCJQ (Gini Wilson, piano; Steve Heckman, soprano & tenor sax, clarinet & flute; Pat Klobas, bass; Ron Marabuto, drums; Special Guest vocalist: Jackie Ryan; Badr Karram, dumbek) – Music Wizards

by | Aug 31, 2005 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The San Francisco ChamberJazz Quartet — SFCJQ (Gini Wilson,
piano; Steve Heckman, soprano & tenor sax, clarinet & flute;
Pat Klobas, bass; Ron Marabuto, drums; Special Guest vocalist: Jackie
Ryan; Badr Karram, dumbek) – Music Wizards (no CD #) www.chamberjazz.com ****:

Pianist Gini Wilson, also known as The Duchess, moved into jazz only
after a classical career, having studied with American composer George
Crumb among others.  Now she has co-founded this ensemble with
reedman Heckman in an effort to blend the genres with a tasteful style
free of some of the stiffness of previous jazz/classical attempts. The
highly lyrical program is sparked by the influence of world music,
including Cuban and Brazilian.  Blues and free but tonal
improvisation are also factors here. Variety is insured by some of the
tracks being Gini’s solo piano. And the three tracks featuring guest
vocalist Jackie Ryan break up the strictly instrumental bag. Most of
the dozen tunes are either by Wilson or Heckman. The most seriously
classical tracks are the two selections from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at
an Exhibition. “The Old Castle” becomes “Mussorgsky in Marrakesh,” with
help from Karram on the dumbek. A most enjoyable program in a groove
that’s long been my favorite, and a welcome relief from the
funk/soul/hip-hop-influenced jazz that’s been assailing my pained ears
lately.  Good sound too.

Tracks: Un Amor Un Poco Tragico, Morning Song of a Falcon, Maybe,
Separate Ways, Lucky Monkey (vocal), Suave Duqueza, Someday Your Smile,
Promenade, Mussorgsky in Marrakesh, Let It Rain, O Town Blues, Lucky
Monkey (instrumental).

– John Sunier

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01