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| For Your Consideration: Hendrik Meurkens - Cobb's Pocket Cobb's Pocket - Best Jazz Instrumental Album Cobb's Pocket - Best Instrumental Composition Driftin' - Best Improvised Jazz Solo Dear Friends, Here is the last of my three albums with the legendary Jimmy Cobb of Kind of Blue fame, featuring jazz heavyweights Peter Bernstein and Mike LeDonne. Jimmy passed away earlier this year and we will never again hear his magically ride cymbal. Besides being one of jazz's all time great drummers, Jimmy was Mr. Cool. A true gentleman, a great friend, and the nicest guy you'd ever meet. The tune Cobb's Pocket I wrote for Jimmy thinking of his once in a century pocket. For those who don't know, pocket is what we call a musician's time feel. Man, did he have a pocket! You can listen to Cobb's Pocket on these platforms: Apple Music Spotify YouTube Cobb's Pocket - Hendrik Meurkens IN+OUT Records IOR CD77141-2 1. Driftin' (Herbie Hancock) 2. Cobb's Pocket (H. Meurkens) 3. Frame For The Blues (Slide Hampton) 4. Slidin' (H. Meurkens) 5. Slow Hot Wind (H. Mancini/N. Gimbel) 6. Unit Seven (Sam Jones) 7. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (van Heusen/Burke) 8. A Slow One (H. Meurkens) Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica Mike LeDonne – organ Peter Bernstein – guitar Jimmy Cobb – drums Recorded July 1st & 2nd, 2018 by Derek Nievergelt at GB's Juke Joint, NYC, Assisted by Colin Mohnacs Mixed and Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recordings, New York, NY Produced by Hendrik Meurkens Cobb's Pocket - Hendrik Meurkens Jazz Harmonica Jazz Journal - Francois van de Linde "I'm spellbound by Meurkens' restrained passion, which underscores Cobb's Pocket's complete synthesis of groove and excellence. Not only is the German's first pairing with Hammond B3 organ very enjoyable, it showcases a blend of warmth and virtuosity that is unbelievable." Glide Magazine – Best of 2019 "In his 30 years as a recording artist this is Meurkens first-ever, and the first of its kind perhaps, showcasing the swinging soul-jazz, hard bop, straight-ahead possibilities of pairing a harmonica with and an organ trio (B3 Hammond, electric guitar, and drums). Organist Mike LeDonne and guitarist Peter Bernstein join venerable drummer Jimmy Cobb in the trio backing Meurkens, who makes his harmonica sound every bit as lyrical as a saxophone." Downbeat by Bobby Reed – Editor's Pick "The new album marks the first time that the harmonicist has recorded with an organ trio. The results are deeply satisfying. Meurkens' solo on the title track is a master class on crafting melodic lines and colorful shading with a harmonica, demonstrating that in the right hands, the instrument can rival the trumpet or saxophone in terms of musical intricacy and emotional impact." Audiophile Audition - Jeff Krow "Hendrik's sweet, but sassy, harmonica brings a welcome change to the typical Hammond session. He proves that the blues harp has a natural space in a jazz setting- just like Toots Thielemans brought for many decades in a more traditional straight ahead fashion… It's all good to be in Cobb's pocket, a warm and inviting place for a new version of a Hammond B-3 quartet." All About Jazz - Nick Mondello "Meurkens is not only a superior harmonica player, he is, like Thielemans, a multi-instrument-playing musician. Maestro Meurkens is a technical wizard. He holds little back and swings heavily throughout the date. His chops have chops. His improvisations are swinging, extended lines that resemble of those of a saxophonist or pianist. Remember, Meurkens is also an ace vibraphonist. Cobb's Pocket is shorter in length, but extensive in its delivery of an A-1 entertaining session." All About Jazz - Dan Bilawsky **** "A beautiful set of music that alternately cooks, smolders and seduces… A straight-ahead affair from beginning to end, Cobb's Pocket offers plenty to appreciate. From the hip glide of the opener—Herbie Hancock's"Driftin'"—to the fine and mellow sendoff of Meurkens' "A Slow One, " this quartet lays right in the sweetest of spots—in Jimmy Cobb's legendary pocket." Jazz Music Archives by John Sanders "Meurkens' playing is infused with rapid bebop runs that recall saxophonists like Charlie Parker and Eric Dolphy. Some of the wide interval leaps he takes almost sound like vibraphone licks, possibly he pictures the vibe keyboard while choosing his notes. LeDonne and Bernstein fill out the sound with a mix of blues and bop sourced soulful solos." write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |