Tag: Moving Right Along

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Jon Davis
Moving Right Along
Positone
PR8133

Here’s another very fine straight-ahead piano trio album, though this one has a very different feel. Pianist and composer Jon Davis leads his trio through a program made up of standards, originals, and versions of non-standards like Lennon and McCartney’s “She’s Leaving Home” and a couple of Jaco Pastorius tunes. His approaches vary subtly from tune to tune, sometimes incorporating gentle Latinisms and sometimes impressionistic clouds of chords that might shift gently but suddenly into a bluesy swing. Davis’s style offers a rare combination of delicacy and complexity, and this album would make an excellent addition to any collection supporting a jazz program.

jazznotes.com

Jon Davis, Moving Right Along (Posi-Tone)

New York-based pianist Jon Davis has an adventurous CD in his second Posi-Tone project, Moving Right Along. Favorites include his original, “Beauty and the Blues,” and his interesting interpretations of John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” and the Beatles (Lennon/McCartney) classic “She’s Leaving Home.” The blend of originals and covers also includes “Portrait of Tracy” and “Dania,” which were written by his 1980s boss, Jaco Pastorius. Davis has fine support throughout from bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Shinnosuke Takahashi.

steptempest.com

Pianist-composer Jon Davishas been an active participant on the contemporary music scene since the 1980s, first coming to critical attention for his work with bassist Jaco Pastorius.  He’s also worked with Beatle Jazz, with the Bill Mobley Big Band, with saxophonist Ilhan Ershahan and a long list of other great players.

For “Moving Right Along“, his 6th recording as a leader (and second for Posi-Tone Records), he leads a trio that features drummer Shinnosuke Takahashi (who appeared on that first CD) and bassist Yashushi Nakamura through a smart program of originals, standards, and covers.  He pays tribute to Pastorius with a lovely version of “Portrait of Tracy” (one of the late bassist’s must enduring melodies) as well as a blazing take of “Dania” (originally composed for big band).  The quiet yet active percussion of Takahashi stands out on the former track (as does the wonderful “dancing” piano solo) while the latter tools along atop the strong walking bass lines.  The arrangement for John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” opens on a lovely, lilting, Caribbean rhythm and moves forward with glee.  The interaction of the drums and piano on Davis’s solo is delightful, really the essence of what creative music can be. There’s also a great take on The Beatle’s “She’s Leaving Home“, one that illuminates the bluesier side of the song. Takahashi’s splendid cymbal work on the opening choruses of Frank Loesser’s “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” sets up a tension that is relieved and revived all through the solo section. Nakamura’s bass lines explore counterpoint, weaving through the showers of piano notes and cymbal splashes.

Davis takes 2 pieces for solo piano, Thelonious Monk’s “Reflections” and Harold Arlen’s “I Gotta Right to Sing The Blues.”  The pianist caresses Monk’s handsome melody, not rushing the pace, and keeping the reflective quality of the music. The Arlen composition, from 1932, is also quite reflective, an appropriate song to close the CD.

The album includes 5 Davis originals including the McCoy Tyner-like title track that opens the program and the blues-drenched “Under The Stairway” that follows. It’s really quite a pleasure to hear a rhythm section so tuned in to the movement of the leader; though there are few bass or drums solos (and those are much closer to the end of the recording), one can hear just how involved and important Nakamura and Takahashi are to the success of the trio “sound”.  There’s a touch of Horace Silver’s sound in the medium-tempo of “Pensive Puff” (bass line, at times, echoes “Song For My Father“) and a hint of Abbey Lincoln’s classic “Throw It Away” in the bluesy melody of “Just In Case.” The familiar touches serve to draw the listener closer and truly make the piece more enjoyable.

“Moving Right Along” does just that – for 66 minutes, Jon Davis, Yasushi Nakamura, and Shinnosuke Takahashi move the listener through a panoply of musical styles and emotions. You can listen early in the morning as you prepare for the day or late in the evening with a glass of wine.  With the typical clean Posi-Tone sound (Nick O’Toole must love drummers), this album is a welcome addition to lovers of piano trio music…and lovers of good music anywhere.

somethingelsereviews.com

Veteran jazz pianist Jon Davis issues only his third album overall, but he continues to quickly make up for a career that until recently lacked led dates. Moving Right Along (February 3, 2015, Posi-Tone Records) is his second in a row for Posi-Tone, following up on 2013’s flawless set One Up Front. Davis is again in his strongest setting, the venerable jazz trio, with Shinnosuke Takahasi returning on drums and Yasushi Nakamura taking over from Joris Teepe on double bass.

There’s much to like about i>Moving Right Along, which, firstly, showcases Jon Davis’ composing prowess that’s immediately found in the light, nimble swing of “Moving Right Along” where Davis’ solo shows superb rhythmic sense. “Under The Stairway” is a waltz put into a bluesy groove and again, Davis’ piano is full of harmonic ideas he rarely revisits as Takahasi’s drums are always pushing forward, not content to be a passive keeper of time.

As with One Up Front, there are a few recognizable covers, such as John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice.” Here, it’s an imaginative recasting of melody that Jon Davis updates by disassembling it and reassembling it as a groover; ever-shifting rhythms keeps the listener guessing. Frank Loesser’s “I’ve Never Been In Love Before” is also reharmonized with minor moods alternating with major ones, a virtuosic performance remindful of Chick Corea’s Now He Sings, Now He Sobstrio. The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” is an occasion for Davis to demonstrate his delicate handling of a pretty pop melody, and he later in the song shows off his ample blues chops.

During the mid-80’s Jon Davis was in a trio led by Brian Melvin that featured Jaco Pastorius on bass; it’s from that association with the bass giant that inspired Davis to feature two of Pastorius’ compositions. The opulent “Portrait of Tracy” is rendered elegantly into trio form as Davis and Nakamura (via a sensitive bass solo) get deep into to penetrating harmonics of the song. “Dania” is a more obscure Jaco tune, but one that was played by Melvin’s band. Davis takes this sophisticated big bang-styled tune and skillfully adapts it to the small combo.

After decades as a highly respected sideman, Jon Davis’ solo output continues to show these years of rich experience that only a long-time performer of his caliber can yield. Given that, it’s little wonder that Moving Right Along is another high quality trio date.

allaboutjazz.com

by Mark Corroto

Every jazz generation has its own Tommy Flanagan, an unheralded player that finally steps into the spotlight and everyone wonders how he has been hiding in plain sight all these years. With Moving Right Along, a follow up to One Up Front(Posi-Tone, 2013) pianist Jon Davis takes center stage with an assured sense of swing and a sumptuous way with a jazz vocabulary.

As a sideman, he has held the piano chair in bands led by jazz fusion greats Jaco Pastorious and Brian Melvin, big band leaders Joris Teepe and Bill Mobley, and jazz legendsJoe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz and today’s stars Eddie Henderson and Ilhan Ersahin.

Leading his own trio with bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Shinnosuke Takahashi, he negotiates a few standards, some discerning pop tunes, and five original compositions. Judging his approach is best taken up with his his covers of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. The latter’s “Moment’s Notice” is taken at a gentler pace revealing Davis’ sweet-tempered disposition. Same for his solo mediative take on Monk’s “Reflections.” Davis plays with patience and an imperturbability that suggests he would sound this way playing for an audience of one or a packed concert hall. 

Track Listing: Moving Right Along; Under The Stairway; Moment’s Notice; Beauty and The Blues; I’ve Never Been In Love Before; Reflections; She’s Leaving Home; Portrait of Tracy; Dania; Just In Case; Pensive Puff; I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues.

Personnel: Jon Davis: piano; Yasushi Nakamura: bass; Shinnosuke Takahashi: drums.

www.criticaljazz.com

With pianist Jon Davis, always expect the unexpected and his upcoming release Moving Right Along is no exception. Davis is one of the more adventurous and thought provoking pianists of the day. 

The typical straight ahead piano trio can border on the tedious at times. One leader and two after thoughts banging out a selection of predictable covers is about as far away as you can get for Moving Right Along. “Moments Notice” from John Coltrane and “Reflections” from Thelonious Monk are certainly familiar tunes but the harmonic movement and slightly diverted meter on each allows new life for these long honored classic tunes. There are some surprises along the way including the Jaco Pastorius composition “Portrait of Tracy” and an evocative reading of The Beatles classic “She’s Leaving Home.” Harold Arlen’s “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” is pure gold. 

Davis paints his lyrical sense of purpose with a broad brush yet it is the sound of the collective that ties together a myriad of styles with a uniformity of sound that is most impressive. Some of the more impressive Davis originals include “Under The Stairway” and “Just In Case” but this is a release that revolves around variety while never venturing off the melodic cliff. Jon Davis is an A list pianist and while this is far from his first outing as a leader there is little doubt that the ability to play any style and with any ensemble is a given. 

In the world of the predictable and if not occasionally mind numbing piano trio, Jon Davis is a breath of fresh air!