There are two schools of thought when it comes to ballad projects for young jazz players. The first posits that ballads are a flat-out play for cash, appealing to a broader pop audience. The second (and more rational) views ballads as challenging a form as free-jazz or be-bop. Consider the remarkable ballad work done by John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. (Call them sell-outs at your own peril.) Fine ballad playing requires musical sensitivity, technical control, and an artist's soul.
That's what you get on this excellent disc from the young and gifted Mark Turner. Through an eclectic playlist that includes works by Gershwin, Carla Bley, and Herbie Hancock, Turner displays a true gift for emotion that never becomes overly sentimental. This is particularly evident on his reading of the gem "Some Other Time," in which his sax lines explore the melody in the true storyteller tradition. He is aided throughout by such equally gifted players as Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar and Brian Blade on drums. A fine disc.
All recordings courtesy of Warner Bros. ΓÇ£I Loves You PorgyΓÇ¥ written by G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D. Heyward, courtesy of George Gershwin Music/Ira Gershwin Music/DuBose & Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund Publishing (ASCAP). ΓÇ£NefertitiΓÇ¥ written by W. Shorter, courtesy of Miyako Music, administered by Irving Music (BMI). ΓÇ£Some Other TimeΓÇ¥ written by L. Bernstein, B. Comden, A. Green, courtesy of Universal-PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP).
