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Pat Bianchi:
In The Moment
| Label |
Savant SCD 2173 |
| recorded |
September 2016 in Brooklyn, NY/USA
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| online distribution |
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| Pat Bianchi |
organ |
| Paul Bollenback |
guitar |
| Byron Landham |
drums |
| Peter Bernstein |
guitar |
| Carmen Intorre jr |
drums |
| Joe Locke |
vibes |
| Kevin Mahogany |
vocal |
| Pat Martino |
guitar |
01: Humpty Dumpty
02: Blue Gardenia
03: Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing
04: Mr. PM
05: Barracudas
06: Crazy
07: No Expectations
08: I Want To Talk About You
09: Fall
10: Four In One
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If you glance at the tracks listed here, you May be tempted to start out with two
notable collaborations and one Willie Nelson-penned country classic. Not a bad move,
as it turns out. The cameos by vocalist Kevin Mahogany, who died in late 2017, and
guitar legend Pat Martino, organist Pat Bianchi's mentor and bandmate, swiftly live
up to expectations, albeit in sharply contrasting performances. And the thoroughly
reinvigorated reprise of Nelson's "Crazy" somehow manages to salute both Patsy Cline
and vintage organ-combo traditions with as much ingenuity as ease. It's just one of
several reminders of Bianchi's flair for devising fresh, compact arrangements.
Over the course of 10 tracks, Bianchi and a seasoned cast of session mates cover a
lot of ground. Besides Nelson and Billy Eckstine-the prime inspiration for Mahogany's
luxe, soulful rendering of "I Want to Talk About You" - In the Moment features compositions
by Chick Corea ("Humpty Dumpty"), Stevie Wonder ("Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing"),
Miles Davis/Gil Evans ("Barracudas [General Assembly]"), Wayne Shorter ("Fall"),
and Thelonious Monk ("Four in One"). Throughout, Bianchi, guitarist Paul Bollenback,
and drummer Byron Landham make an agile, tightly cohesive trio. The keyboardist and
guitarist often display a mutual talent for offsetting resonating atmospherics with
flashing chromaticism, while Landham is busy neatly negotiating dynamic tempo shifts
and tricky rhythmic displacements. It soon becomes clear that the trio's special guests
are prepared for similar challenges. So don't be surprised when guitarist Peter Bernstein,
vibist Joe Locke, and drummer Carmen Intorre, Jr. suddenly snare, and reward, your attention.
© by Mike Joyce, Down Beat
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