BILL BANFIELD’S JAZZ URBANE

TAKE TIME TO LISTEN

Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings

Bill Banfield, solo guitar.

While talking to his 100-year-old father, Bill Banfield suddenly realized he had something he needed to attend to and tried to end their conversation.  His father gave him this advice, “… You must take time to listen.”  Surprisingly, that inspired the title for Banfield’s new album.

Banfield was born and raised in my hometown of Detroit, Michigan.  He attended the famed magnet school, Cass Technical High School, and studied with two of Detroit’s finest guitar players, Kenny Burrell and Earl Klugh. Banfield says that he calls his instrument a ‘solo-voiced guitar.’  Importantly, “Take Time to Listen” is dedicated to Burrell and Klugh who taught and inspired him early in his career.

“This album is to lift up these jazz guitar icons who greatly inspired and coached me as an early teen, when I aspired to be like my heroes.”

Some are shocked that a composer and arranger of the status of Bill Banfield has recorded a solo guitar album. After all, he is a highly respected composer of symphonies and operas including being conductor of the Imagine Orchestra.  Banfield has composed thirteen symphonies, eight operas and seven concerti, two ballets, seventeen choral works and thirty big band scores.  He’s also written twenty-five chamber concert works and composed forty original popular and jazz songs, along with sixty opera arias. He is currently Professor Emeritus of the Berklee School of Music and an Artist-in-Residence at Longy School of Music at Bard College.

Before Banfield became a conductor, composer and symphonic arranger, the inspiration for this album first started with his love of the guitar. On his album, he has composed some of the music he performs, but it also includes well-known music from jazz, pop and R&B genres, performed in his own inimitable style. The multi-talented maestro says “…it only takes a few notes to communicate the essence of a great song.”

For example, until you hear the first strains of “Summertime” after a groove-driven introduction on his instrument, the arrangement gives no hint of the popular song. However, once I recognize the tune, Banfield’s improvised solo is both creative and inspired.

Another familiar tune from the pop world is Carol King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” that he plays with a folksy groove that includes a strong guitar bass line, simultaneous to his melodic projection and rhythm guitar chord changes.  Bill Banfield’s playing is amazing, smooth and complicated.  I am in awe of his talent and technique. Banfield also interpreted the hit song, “Fragile” by Sting.

He has released other guitar albums, one titled, “The Best of Bill Banfield – Hybridity” that shows off his smooth jazz arrangements and original compositions.

Bill Banfield is just as comfortable on stage as he is with a whiteboard and pen in the classroom. Although he’s revered for work with big bands and symphonies, operas, classical concerts and compositions, this recent solo project is far more personal.  Banfield makes it sound and feel easy, another simple solo production. But in essence, this is a masterpiece musical presentation. I would not be surprised if “Take Time to Listen” is nominated for a Grammy award.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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