ANDY BAKER

FROM HERE, FROM THERE

Calligram Records

Andy Baker, trombone/composer; Russ Johnson, trumpet; Clark Sommers, bass; Dana Hall, drums/cymbals.

This is Andy Baker’s first recording for the Calligram Record label, but he has recorded on over twenty-five albums prior to this release. Baker has been a jazz trombone force on the Chicago music scene since he arrived from London in 2001. Baker is joined on this production by three all-star veterans of the Chicago jazz scene: Dana Hall on drums, Russ Johnson on trumpet and Clark Sommers on bass.

Their quartet opens with the familiar tune, “Close Your Eyes.”  This group has mastered the chord-less sound, eliminating both guitar and piano from their rhythm section. Their format allows a bright spotlight to follow Andy Baker on trombone and Russ Johnson on trumpet, leaving lots of room for them to improvise.  Both Sommers (bass) and drummer (Hall) are comfortable playing in a chord-less setting. Sommer’s has a longstanding trio called “Ba(SH)” featuring sax man, Geof Bradfield. They offer a similar production, and Sommers also participates in Dana Hall’s quartet “Spring.”

The group’s opening tune is somewhat of a tribute to Baker’s friend and former bandmate, the late, great Roy Hargrove.  Hargrove played “Close Your Eyes” as an encore the last time Baker was on stage with him. In fact, Andy Baker arranged quite a few tunes for Roy Hargrove over the years.

I enjoyed Baker’s interpretation of the Billy Strayhorn tune “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” with Dana Hall’s drums dynamically solidifying a jazz waltz in the arrangement. Baker’s rich interpretation of “Skylark,” as a slow swing, allows his trombone to take center stage and shine alongside bassist Clark Sommers. Their duet is quite stellar. These two familiar songs become two of my favorites on this album. I also enjoyed the opening tune and Baker’s original composition, “Blues for VDB” written for British Sax man, Russell van den Berg, who was a classmate and inspirational friend of Baker’s in his formative music years.  Some time ago, Baker composed a song called “Softly” for his children, when they needed to tone down their energy and embrace silence.

This is an exploratory chord-less album that highlights the talents of four amazing artists with emphasis on Andy Baker’s composer/arranger skills and his trombone mastery.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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