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3D
Guillermo Bazzola Summer Quartet
(PAI)
Reviewed
by David
Rickert (All
About Jazz)
Perhaps
no instrument was affected more by the advent of rock and roll than
the guitar. Pioneers like Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix, while
accomplished musicians in their own right, ushered in an era where
earnest teenagers picked up the guitar because they felt that anyone
could play it, and play it well. Everyone wanted to form a rock band
and simply being able to pound out three chords became enough to
write passable songs. Soon graffiti told us that Charlie Parker was
no longer God; Clapton was. Arguably the guitar is now the most
popular instrument today, but no one yearns to be Wes Montgomery
over Kurt Cobain.
Fortunately
there are still musicians out there who are dedicated to preserving
the legacy of the guitar in jazz: clean melodic lines and
craftsmanship instead of snarling power chords. One such fellow is
Guillermo Bazzola, who hails from Argentina and is part of the
strong Latin American jazz scene along with pianist Adrian Iaies. As
such, a strong Latin subtext infuses the entire album. Shades of the
dark, melancholy beauty of Wayne Shorter albums like Speak No
Evil are also evident here; songs like “Sambeta” and
“Cinco” are not just bedrocks for improvisation, but are strong,
melodic tunes in their own right.
The
lack of piano is the quartet gives the musicians plenty of space to
stretch out and gives the album an airy, relaxed feel. Possessed
with a seemingly effortless technique, Bazzola plays as if he was
picking up grains of sand with tweezers; patiently, carefully, and
precisely. He has chosen accomplished musicians to back him; Rodrigo
Dominguez in particular is gifted at playing colorful, undulating
melodies that glide over the changes.
Even
with rock and roll, great music is played as if it truly comes from
the soul; this is what separates the earnest dabblers from the
skilled performers. Bazzola is definitely in the latter category.
His excellent album is definitely worthy of attention from here in
the States.
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