Lagos Blues

Ciacca, Antonio

Motéma, 2009, CD
Instrument: Piano

Issue: 16.1

Jazz Ruler Type: Swing

Performance: 5

Sound: 4

Score:

O’s Notes: Pianist Antonio Ciacca leads a quartet Witt Kengo Nakamura (b), Ulysses Owens (d) and Stacy Dillard (sax). They open with Ciacca’s “Lagos Blues” a spirited number that sets the mood for the session. Then special guest Steve Grossman, the saxophonist who replaced Wayne Shorter in Miles’ fusion band, comes on strong with two of his own compositions. The first, a burner- “Take The D Train” is followed by a ballad “Nicoletta” that including a nice bass solo from Nakamura. Ciacca then switches to standards of which we enjoyed his arrangements of “Body &Soul” and “Reflections in D/Sentimental Mood”. Antonio’s performance on the piano was excellent. He also coaxed strong contributions from his team, the mark of a strong leader.

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