Steve Turre has long been the first call trombonist of course that is when he is not working as a prolific arranger, composer, educator and solo artist in his own right - and did I mention he has been the trombonist with the Saturday Night Live house band since 1984?
Turre's fourth release on the HighNote label finds Turre still taking the late Woody Shaw's advice and to go for it! Steve Turre joined Woody Shaw's quintet back in 1981 and before his passing in 1989, Steve had made 14 records with him. Woody's Delight is Turre's forth release on the HighNote label and he continues Shaw's advise which has served him well with eight of the nine tunes having been penned by Turre. "Annette's For Sure" is a tune by Brazilian master Claudio Roditi and is an integral part of the textured layers of flavor found in this sonic delight. Turre brought in four veteran trumpet players for this tribute to Shaw. Roditi along with Wallace Roney, Jon Faddis and Chocolate Armenteros are more than complemented by a rising star in Freddie Hendrix. Turre is much like his muse Shaw in promoting musical variety while still maintaining that ever important artistic sense of self.
"Woody's Delight" was appropriately named for Shaw's penchant for blues in the key of G-minor. A 24 bar melody with a 12-bar blues format making for the unique approach to the otherwise done to death presentation heard today. "Something For Sweets" continues in the musical tribute vein to Harry "Sweets" Edison with a more post modern riff on a swing era legend. Steve Turre is a prolific artist in the world of Latin jazz and the beautiful ballad "Adios Mi Amigo" again pays fitting tribute to his friend pianist Hilton Ruiz whose passing remains a mystery to this day. While there is a suspicion of manslaughter the local authorities in New Orleans still list the death of Ruiz as an accident. Turre's love for and prodigious talent for Latin music comes full circle with the smoker "Manny's Mambo." Steve Turre's use of shells is far more than an eclectic novelty used for special effect but is instead a melody and rhythm instrument and an extension of his experience in Manny Oquendo's Conjunto Libre where Turre acquired a new rhythmic language. Freddie Hendrix is a gifted instrumentalist quickly developing his own musical voice and is a brilliant addition to this ensemble cast on "3 For Woody" and "Brother Bob."
From young guns such as Freddie Hendrix to 83 year old Chocolate Armenteros who was also a member of Conjunto Libre, Woody's Delight is a musical celebration.
Steve Turre has created a musical celebration, not a passing of the torch but an artistic triumph in the Woody Shaw spirit of "going for it!"
A flawless 5 Star recording.
Tracks: Woody's Delight; Something For Sweets; In Retrospect; Luna; Annette's For Sure; Adios Mi Amigo; Manny's Mambo; 3 For Woody; Brother Bob.
Personnel: Steve Turre: trombone, shells; Jon Faddis (1,2), Wallace Roney (3,4), Claudio Roditi (5,6), Chocolate Armenteros (7); Freddie Hendrix (8,9): trumpet; Luis Perdomo (5,6,7), Xavier Davis (1-4,8,9): piano; Aruan Ortiz: fender rhodes; Buster Williams (1-4), Andy Gonzalez (6,7), Corcoran Holt (8,9), Nilson Matta (5); Dion Parson: drums (1-4,8,9); Duduka Da Fonseca: drums & birambeau (5,6); Jimmy Delgado: timbales & conga (6,7); Pedro Martinez: bongos & campana (7); George Delgado: conga (7).
HighNote Records
