Nelson, Richard
Heliotrope Records, 2011, CD
Instrument: Instrumental
Issue: 17.3
Jazz Ruler Type: BigBand
Performance: 3
Sound: 4
Score:
O’s Notes: Guitarist Richard Nelson leads a large ensemble and a subset, quintet to perform his compositions for Pursuit, a live recording. Both configurations employ solid musicians including Tim O’Dell (sax). The sound is open – aptly labeled as “uncluttered quiet” in the liner notes. And the sound quality is great on both configurations. The program includes ample amounts of improvisation and solos. We especially enjoyed the layering of brass on the exotic “Search”; the lazy swing of “Azure” and “Abol Stream”. Nelson comes to the forefront more in the two selections performed as a quintet.
Publicist: Braithwaite & Katz