WRITTED BY: JOHATHAN WIDRAN
JIMBO ROSS, Jazz Passion & Satin Latin
Fans who find themselves instantly enraptured, as I did, with Jimbo Ross’s magnificent, rhythmically multi-faceted and adventurously improvisation filled ensemble album Jazz Passion & Satin Latin could have a field day just citing the iconic credits of the man Don Ellis called way back in the mid-70s, “the only jazz violist in captivity.”
Maybe it’s just that fact that’s made his vibe so in demand by everyone from The (Dixie) Chicks to Chick Corea, Coolio to Stevie Wonder, Frank, Ella and Tony. He also performed with Ellis’ Orchestra and a Django Reinhardt styled gypsy jazz group, playing viola solos in the style of violinist Stephane Grapelli.
Those myriad experiences and the sheer exuberant joy Ross still has playing his unique instrument are the key elements that infuse this cleverly titled collection, from the dashing high energy swing arrangement of “Delilah” (patterned after the classic Clifford Brown/Max Roach version) through the hip, peppy and percussive samba twist on “Lolita” and on through the cheery, whimsical romp “The Breeze and I.”
Aside from a fascinating, off the beaten path repertoire – which also includes the sweetly romantic Polka Dots & Moonbeams,” a charming waltz through “Emily” and the alternately swaying and snappy original “Don the Working Man” – the most salient feature of the generous 13 track set is Ross’ truly unselfish approach to working with his surreal, always spot on quartet.
While his lyrical, expressive melodies and crackling solo action are ever-present to continuously remind us it’s his project, it feels like every song has compelling extended solos guitarist Joe Gaeta and pianist Stuart Elster, bouncing wild ideas off one another like celestial jazzy ping pong balls – all anchored by the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Peter Marshall and drummer Ron Wagner. A delightfully all over the map grab bag of a session, Jazz Passion & Satin Latin truly lives up to its clever but absolutely accurate name.
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ALL ABOUT JAZZ BY NICK MONDELLO
Jazz Passion & Satin Latin from elite viola player Jimbo Ross offers a dozen selections drawn across a wide array of resources. From tried-and-true GASsers, to more obscure, but, fascinating, jazz compositions, all seasoned with Latin flavorings, Ross and his compadres deliver an invigorating session.
The album opens auspiciously with Ross in viola-guitar unison in a heated Latin-straight-ahead take covering of "Delilah." It mirrors Clifford Brown and Max Roach's arrangement from their classic 1954 Grammy Hall of Fame album. Ross takes off con fuego before pianist Stuart Elster and guitarist Joe Gaeta offer their own torrid solos. Ross is spotlit on "Polkadots and Moonbeams." It is presented in a light ballad-swing lilt. Ross takes the call and response melodic format of Wes Montgomery's early recording, "Jingles," and develops it into a burner, albeit somewhat slower than the original. Ross's throaty viola sings and solos on his lovely, but oddly-named for a waltz, "Don the Working Man." The composer stretches out nicely here, as does Elster.
Ross, a well-recorded session player across the pop, rock and jazz worlds, is a marvelously interesting player—and not only for his special 5-string electric viola/violin which he calls his "guit-fiddle." He has awesome technical chops, a joyous performing flair, and displays a stylistically swinging energy that reverberates back to the great violinists such as Joe Venuti, Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, and more recently, Jean-Luc Ponty.
Three well-worked standards comprise the heart of the album. "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," "Emily" and "Indian Summer." The first tune in that trio is a Latin-straight-ahead arranged track. "Emily" is also taken as originally presented—a swaying waltz. Bassist Peter Marshall, with a fine solo, and drummer Ron Wagner keep things tasty. "Indian Summer" is a torrid swinger and the most intense of these three. The lovely samba "Know It All" is a joyous framework for Ross' bursts of delightful strings. Gaeta and Elster join the party with Marshall and Wagner similarly upbeat. This is a highlight track. "Says You,” a Sam Jones composition, is pure speedball bop with all stretching out before all alternating fours. Cuban composer Ernesto Leucona's "The Breeze and I" from his Suite Andalucia is usually performed at a much slower tempo than the lightning-fast effort performed here. Ross and all show max virtuosity in this frantically-paced closer.
Track Listing: Delilah, Polkadots & Moonbeams, Jingles, Don the Working Man, Lolita; The Night Has a Thousand Eyes; Emily, Indian Summer, Know It All; East Lag; My Man's Gone Now; Say's You; The Breeze and I.