ATLANTIC JAZZ COLLECTIVE featuring NORMA WINSTONE & JOE LABARBERA

SEASCAPE

Alma Records

Norma Winstone, vocals/lyricist; Mike Murley, tenor and soprano saxophones; Florian Hoefner, piano/accordion; Jim Vivian, boss; Joe LaBarbera, drums.

Mike Murley’s sensuous soprano saxophone opens the first tune, a Maria Schneider composition called “Distant Star.” When Norma Winstone’s vocals enter, she becomes another instrument of emotion and beauty. The melody is challenging. It takes a great talent like Winstone to interpret it.

On Track two, “Where Do We Go From Here” written by Kenny Wheeler, once again, the sweet tone of Norma Winstone enters in concert with Florian Hoefner’s piano accompaniment and the tender tenor saxophone of Mike Murley.  When Jim Vivian enters on double bass, the texture of the song turns.  His solo is stunning.  Hoefner takes off after his improvised expression, like a fluttering bird climbing through space to an endless blue sky.  Hoefner’s fingers do the flying.  Beneath, Joe LaBarbera accentuates and accents the journey on his solid trap drums.

I really enjoy Winstone’s interpretation of a Steve Swallow tune called “Trying to Recall.”  It reminds me of Winstone’s collaborative days with trumpeter/composer Kenny Wheeler during their “Azimuth” album studio session in 1977. The vocalist has written most of the lyrics for this project, except for Tracks 1, 5 and 7. Florian Hoefner offers us a dynamic piano solo full of improvisation and excitement.  Murley’s tenor sax talks in fluid phrases, drawing me into a whirlpool of bebop expression and familiar territory.  This tune is in my wheelhouse.

The entire Atlantic Jazz Collective swings hard.  I loved their interpretation of “This is New” (a Kurt Weil composition) that hard bops its way across my listening room and gives freedom for each musician to show their brilliant instrumental talents. Along with a strong group dynamic, mixed with undeniable individual talents of each musician, they have chosen a great jazz repertoire. They close with “Raffish,” another Ralph Towner composition with Winstone’s poetic lyrics and scat phrases testing and seducing her range.  Joe LaBarbera is brightly featured on drums. This is an historic musical production that should catch any jazz collector’s eye and capture worldwide attention with its global scope.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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