|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| David Janeway "Interchange" SteepleChase Records David Janeway Interchange David Janeway piano Harvie S bass Steve Johns drums (Steeplechase/Lookout SCCD 33150) The best jazz recordings are timeless and sound as viable and exciting decades after they were created as they did when they were brand new. Certainly Interchange, a previously unreleased set by pianist David Janeway from 1993, could pass for a newly recorded project. No one would ever guess that its performances are over 30 years old. At the time of this recording, David Janeway had already had an impressive career. After growing up in Detroit, he moved to New York City in 1978 and worked with such notables as Art Farmer, Michael Urbaniak, David "Fathead" Newman, Junior Cook, Sonny Fortune, Tom Harrell and Benny Golson among others. He had led three recordings for the tiny New Direction label during 1986-93 and would head a set by his Hastings Jazz Collective in 2008 in addition to being featured on three trio albums (two for New Direction along with the 2020 Steeplechase release Distant Voices) in the future. Interchange is the earliest example of David Janeway being showcased with a trio. He was fortunate to have the services of bassist Harvie S and drummer Steve Johns, two masterful players with endless resumes of their own. The set is comprised of three Janeway originals plus six jazz standards. Throughout the album, two things are obvious. Even at that comparatively early stage, David Janeway had his own personal sound within the modern mainstream of jazz. He was also quite versatile and confident, not shy to display some of his influences and inspirations while always sounding like himself. The program begins with the title cut, a piece that is harmonically advanced while also having a singable melody. Janeway expertly builds up his solo, utilizing repetition and rhythmic phrases in a creative way while hinting in spots at McCoy Tyner. Next is George Gershwin's 'Who Cares" which the trio takes as a medium-tempo swinger. "You're My Everything" is played at a slightly slower pace than normal which allows listeners to savor the beauty of the vintage song. "Invitation" finds the trio welcoming the late great altoist Pete Yellin (1941-2016) as a guest. In addition to his fine solo (which reminds us what a loss his passing has been), this performance gives one an opportunity to hear Janeway in the role of being a stimulating accompanist. On Tadd Dameron's "The Scene Is Clean, " Janeway sounds very much like a classic bebop pianist from the 1950s. During his ballad, the jazz waltz "Return, " he features Harvie S on bowed bass before taking a particularly expressive piano solo of his own. "Yours Is My Heart Alone" was composed for the 1929 operetta The Land Of Smiles" but there are no hints of the song's origin during the trio's hard-swinging version. Interchange concludes with the tender ballad "Last Embrace" and a slightly faster than usual rendition of Bill Evans' "Very Early" which has subtle interplay by the musicians that is worthy of the Evans Trio. David Janeway, with subtle support by Harvie S and Steve Johns, is heard throughout Interchange in prime form. His timeless album is well worth acquiring. Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian write your comments about the article :: © 2023 Jazz News :: home page |