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JAZZ
Photo:
John Mayer
JOHN MAYER
Heavier Things (Aware/Columbia) "Clarity," the first of 10 tracks on
the new album by John Mayer, was recorded in Los Angeles. Written in the key
of D, it's a mid-tempo number that appeals to the listener's head, striking a
tone that is pensive, quizzical and searching, while at the same time managing
to remain sunny and optimistic. I didn't even have to listen to the song to
tell you that. The information has been thoughtfully furnished in a series of
color-coded maps, charts and bar-graphs that illustrate the booklet. Mayer, a
26-year-old Atlanta singer/songwriter whose music gets filed under "adult
alternative," has followed up 2001's breakthrough, Grammy-nominated Songs
For Squares, with another collection of warm and genial, radio-friendly
pop. Imagine Dave Matthews, without the jamming. "Only Heart," for instance,
sounds like an audition piece for the next Carlos Santana duets album. The
song also measures 4.21 gigabytes, for those of you planning to steal it off
the Internet. –Vit Wagner
Photo:
Dianne Reeves
DIANNE REEVES
A Little Moonlight
(Blue Note)
Vocalist Reeves makes a delightful showing here with the band that backed her
at the Carlu this summer. She shows off huge range, stunning sinking low notes
and tonal beauty throughout, backed by pianist Peter Martin, bass Reuben
Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson with assists on three cuts by guitarist
Romero Luambo. She dips into Broadway funnies like "Loads Of Love" and the
fine lyrics of "I Concentrate On You" with comforting ease and if there's
anything grumpy to be said about this session, it's that now and again her
performance is over-buffed — but that's only a problem when you have perfect
enunciation. There's a fine turn on the rare Thelonious Monk tune
"Reflections," to which Jon Hendricks added words and she's specially
wonderful on leisurely, languorous ballads that will also appeal to
sophisticated pop fans, like "Skylark" and a luscious "Darn That Dream."
Reeves first canters, then strolls through "What A Little Moonlight Can Do," a
great opportunity to show off her impeccable scatting, and there's more joy
from an off-kilter take on "I'm All Smiles" and morphing "Lullaby Of Birdland"
into a Brazilian barrio. Trumpeter Nicholas Payton is all glistening notes on
"You Go To My Head."-Goff Chapman
Photo:
Paul Neufeld CD cover
PAUL NEUFELD
Walk Together (True North) Pianist Neufeld has picked sumptuous fruit
for his ongoing Spirituals Project, in which he looks into the works of
19th-century black composers. Some are very familiar, like "Go Down Moses"
and "(Sometimes I Feel Like A) Motherless Child" by Harry Thacker Burleigh
and they certainly lend themselves to jazz interpretation, which should be
no surprise since gospel and jazz sprang from the same roots. Neufeld, more
familiar as NOJO co-founder and tuba-tooting leader of the Rhythm And Truth
Brass Band (as well as being involved in r'n'b's Grooveyard and blues bands)
does a great job of casting these melodies in a jazz vein (especially
"Motherless Child"). Supported by bass Rob Clutton, Paul Brundtland on
congas and Nicholas Hockin on assorted percussion, he refreshes rare
refrains like "Heaven," traditional and anonymous works and "My Soul's Been
Anchored In The Lord" by Florence B. Price. This music's often more
impressive than ragtime and early jazz revivals, since its power to dig deep
into the emotions has dissipated not a whit.-Goff Chapman
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