LIVE AT ONE STATION PLAZA REVIEWS | ABOUT THE CD
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Live at One Station Plaza is upstate New Yorker Jay Azzolina's third album as a leader. His first, Never Too Late, was released in 1989, the same year he joined the seminal fusion group Spyro Gyra; the second, Past Tense, two years ago, with contributions by saxophonist Chris Potter and bassist John Patitucci. Now more than two decades into a career that has included work as a sideman for musicians such as Michael Franks and Chuck Mangione, Azzolina has spent recent years teaching at several area colleges and honing his craft and modern compositional style.
Comprised entirely of Azzolina originals, this outing is an enjoyable one, more cerebral than visceral, more "cool" than "hot," although with moments of real intensity. Azzolina seems inspired now by Metheny, now by Abercrombie, with an occasional whiff of Schofield; members of the organ trio share an enviable rapport. A bluesy samba opens the set, followed in turn by a driving, ¾-time, fusion-flavored cooker; a lovely ballad (a memorial to his mother); a tongue-in-cheek tip-of-the-hat to John Coltrane; a waltz, written for his daughter; a back-beat blazer; and to take us home, a wry groove dedicated to an unnamed "cranky chanteuse." www.jayazzolina.com
- Reviewed by J. Robert Bragonier, 52nd St. Review
Best known for his stint with jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra, guitarist Jay Azzolina has recently taken a welcome tangent into the jazz mainstream, with last year's overlooked Past Tense --a crisp, snappy jazz workout featuring Chris Potter's fiery tenor sax and John Patitucci on bass--and now fronting a B-3 organ (Gary Versace) and drums(Adam Nussbaum) on Live at One Station Plaza.
This set has a very different feel to it than the previous CD, with the cool breeze of the B-3 blowing washes of sound behind Azzolina's sharp, clean lines. The set--all Azzolina originals--is energized by the improvisational openess afforded by the backing organ taking over the bass chores. The CD opens with an uptempo blues, "It's All About You", closes with a jaunty, driving cooker with "It's All About Me", gets thoughtful, poignant with "Irene", and tips a hat to Coltrane in the middle with "So Steps the Giant"
Azzolina has spent his time of late close to home for sake of family, teaching and working on his technique and writing, a mode that's obvious paid off.
And the sound: This is a live recording, but you'll have to listen closely to tell. The sound is clean and sharp with the after-song crowd applause set low in the mix; the band is tight, in a loose, flowing sort of way, the performance seamless.
- Reviewed by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
A former member of the fusion super group Spyro Gyra, guitarist Jay Azzolina opts for a straightahead organ-trio format on his third solo effort. Though his rock-and funk- inspired roots are never far from surface, the more traditional setting allows Azzolina to express more warmth and depth in his playing than he's exhibited in the past.
The dual nature of Azzolina's musical personality is best exemplified by "Peace Of Jack," which features a rock-fueled refrain tempered by a more contemplative theme. Then there's Azzolina's style itself: Often when his long free-flowing lines settle into an easy-going groove, he adds a dose of tension by peppering his solos with bursts of staccato phrases.
Among the highlights is the disc's opening track, "It's All About You," a bluesy number that glides smoothly atop Adam Nussbaum's bossa nova -style rhythms. Another standout track is "So Steps The Giant," a sly interpretation of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" that allows Azzolina and B-3 organist Gary Versace to plow their way through the piece's original chord changes with their personal stamps.
Versace, in fact, serves triple duty as bass player, soloist, and the group harmonic foundation, all the while delivering excellent boppish counterpoint to Azzolina's slick approach. That type of contrast makes the disc rewarding even after repeated listenings.
- Reviewed by John Frederick Moore, Jazziz magazine |
