Ambrosetti, Franco and Friends - Movies - Used LP

vinyl: VG

Sleeve: G

Jazz interpretations of songs and compositions from movies, the "movies" focus fortunately not forcing them to focus on the same old same old, focusing on different periods from the previous 50 years, but clearly bringing it all into the age the previous 20 years, Michigander Geri Allen on both piano and synthesizer, Scofield on electric guitar, and the Swiss leader on flugelhorn and trumpet, all of them and the rhythm section working together to stretch and pull the music in whatever direction their instincts took them, the original compositions just launching pads for conversations and improvisations, some jazz cats talking movies, sometimes Scofield getting to be a bit of a blabber mouth, but like all the friends, he's always aware of the rhythm section, the discussion with many strands and opinions.  With the original songs forming not just launching pads but landing pads as well, the band is also clearly aware of folks like Miles Davis (and others) and fusion when it was first forming 20 years earlier.  Don't let the sleeve or the theme fool you into thinking this will be boring or conservative; instead, this is a recommended listen if you dig that junk called jazz. -- winch

 

Scott Yanow: "When one considers the repertoire -- eight songs from movies. including the theme from The Magnificent Seven and the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" -- this recording may not seem to have much potential. But actually, the set list includes four well-known standards (including "That Old Black Magic" and "Falling In Love Again"), and all of the music is transformed into creative and consistently exciting jazz. Trumpeter/flugelhornist Franco Ambrosetti is the lead voice, but gives plenty of solo space to his illustrious sidemen (guitarist John Scofield, pianist Geri Allen, bassist Michael Formanek, drummer Daniel Humair and percussionist Jerry Gonzalez), and the performances are generally quite memorable. Recommended."