Ted Nash - Still Evolved

[jazzy mary]

Anyone heard it? I think it sounds interesting. It just got 4 and a half stars in DB. I saw the band at the JS last year.

[Mike Schwartz]

JM;
Ted was my guest on the radio in Cali via phone just about 3 hours ago...very secure, super bright and poised in how he expressed himself earlier.

My appreciation of this CD has grown in the past several weeks, in preparation for the guest appearance.

The recording includes Matt Wilson [dr] Ben Allison[b] and Frank Kimbrough[p] with both Wynton and Marcus Printup dividing the trumpet chores equally among the 8 compositions.

The opener has WM using that overworked 'growl' to which I bristled at the thought of 1/2 a CD with a bunch of WM_isms to have to endure. Truth is, other than the predictable devices, Marsalis and Printup do a pretty respectable job on this record.

As has been discussed at JC before, WM's play on other people's recordings in recent years seems much more enjoyable than his own, which is the case to these ears, anyway, proven again on this CD.

Printup does a very nice job, sounding a bit like WM did when he was younger for brief moments,and much to his credit as pointed out by Nash, his own personality emerging in the last couple of years.

Kimbrough,Allison,and Wilson,along with Nash sounding like a well oiled machine, with the mutual experiences of Jazz Composers Collective output like "Herbie Nichols Project" and Medicine Wheel" between them among other things...this CD the first time as a team on a Nash leader date.

I pay little or no attention to *star* ratings, but would certainly say this is a worthwhile listen, if one puts aside any pre-judgment of the trumpet chair.

[Tom Storer]

I'll be looking for this one, if only for the rhythm section!

As has been discussed at JC before, WM's play on other people's recordings in recent years seems much more enjoyable than his own, which is the case to these ears, anyway, proven again on this CD.

On the other hand, when was the last time most of us listened to one of Wynton's own recordings? ;-) But seriously... apart from the Vanguard box, who has listened to anything Wynton has put out under his own name over the past, say, 5 years?

[Jiveman]

I've heard a few cuts on the radio.Last night I heard the title track & it sounded very good.Ted and Wynton's blend on the melodies is just beautiful.This song had long melody statements between each soloist.The melody statements were very solo-like;like writing a solo instead of a "melody".

Wynton sounded good on this cut.Man, his low notes are just killin'.He even touches on an "Ornetty" idea at the beginning of his solo.(I've heard him do this before)He and Matt Wilson had a hookup here!Ted's playing on tenor sounded beautiful.Look forward to hearing more...

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Tom,

Have you tried that Marsalis Family CD? Wynton has some nice moments on it also.

I've read some positive things about the nash CD so I'll pick it up. One of the reviewers did say it might be a tad conservative.

[Nate Dorward]

Hm, I don't understand the fuss about this one. It's very pretty but what's there to get excited about?