JOE COHN IS AN AMAZING GUITARIST !!!!!!
rtjazzguitar | NJ, USA | 10/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the best swinging bebop guitarists out there - always tasteful and enjoyable.
TO THE GUITARIST:
If you are a guitarist and haven't yet discovered Joe Cohn - it's time. Once you hear him, you'll want any cd you can get your hands on with Joe on it. Here's a good place to start: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Funky-People-Joe-Cohn/dp/B000003NM3 AND http://harryallenjazz.com/ . When you think of Jimmy Raney, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, it's hard to imagine that another guitarist could come along who could share many of the attributes of his predecessors but still have a totally unique sound. That's Joe!
TO THE NON_GUITARIST MUSICIAN
If you are a musician who plays an instrument other than guitar, you will be able to relate to the way Joe approaches accompaniment and improvisation. He plays like a guitarist, a horn player and a piano player all mixed into one.
TO THE LISTENER:
If you are a listener, you will find this cd extremely musical and not lacking anywhere in creative interest. The arrangements are beautiful and beautifully executed by great musicians.
The fact that Harry Allen is featured on this cd should pretty much seal the deal. If you want to hear a tenor sax player who sounds like he's working hard and just blowing with nothing left to give, Harry's not your guy. But, if you want to hear unbeliveable fluidity and mastery of the instrument, tasteful lines and rich melodies, well-placed meaningful dynamics from someone who makes it all sound easy (maybe for him, it is), start enjoying him now http://harryallenjazz.com/ .
Hod O'Brien is a veteran player who obviously has no problem playing with a guitarist. You don't have to worry about clashes between the piano and guitar when you have players with this kind of experience and knowledge. Instead, you get masterful accompaniment, tasteful solos and a perfect balance of sound.
You should start hearing more about Dmitry Baevsky who plays a great bop-based alto sax. He's young, from Russia and is simply a great player for any age. You can hear how he has absorbed the language of the great bebop players and in particular - Charlie Parker. What a great choice of working players for this session!
Dennis Irwin on bass and Chuck Riggs on drums are two of the best in the business. They make the whole thing work by creating the feel that the music on this cd is built upon. That feel is always there from two well-established players.
Listen to the samples and realize that the whole cd is just as great."
Terrific!
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 10/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An excellent outing featuring fine playing of outstanding jazz originals and not-too-frequently heard American songbook standards. Joe Cohn is a terrific guitarist, modern in his approach (think Kenny Burrell) and swings hard. Fast tempos are a breeze for him (his father's tune FAST is a case in point). Alto saxophonist Dmitry Baevsky, a Russian by birth, has certainly listened to his fair share of Phil Woods and plays with a somewhat raspy but melodic tone. Harry Allen, who appears on 5 of the 11 tunes, is as great as ever: he's developed into one of the best mainstream tenor players in the world today. (He and Joe have worked frequently together over the last few years, to great acclaim.)
This CD is a gem. Highlights include the up tempo version of COMES LOVE and the aforementioned FAST; SHADOW WALTZ also gets a handsome, swinging workout. But there isn't an off track on the disc - everything gives immense pleasure: get to the end and one's impulse is to play it all over again. Definitely recommended."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1