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| Doug MacDonald and the Coachella Valley Trío Live at The Rancho Mirage Library In his busy career, Doug MacDonald has not only been a major jazz guitarist but a notable arranger-composer and bandleader who has released a steady string of consistently enjoyable recordings. While he has been heard in many settings including his own big band and an all-star group (the latter is featured on his previous recording The Sextet Session), Live At The Rancho Mirage Library shines the spotlight on MacDonald's inventive guitar playing and his interplay with his sidemen. The guitarist is joined by bassist Larry Holloway, drummer Tim Pleasant, and occasionally special guest Big Black on djembe (a goblet-shaped African drum). These musicians have performed together a countless number of times as a unit during the past decade, and their familiarity and comfort with each other's playing is obvious throughout the relaxed but creative set. The performance, which was recorded in Palm Springs, California where the group is based, features Doug MacDonald and his trio/quartet performing ten swinging standards. "It's A Blue World, " a hit for the Four Freshmen in the 1950s, serves as an excellent introduction to the group. Starting with the leader's unaccompanied guitar, this rendition soon gets cooking and has fine guitar and bass solos plus a colorful tradeoff with drummer Pleasant. Tadd Dameron's "Lady Bird" is given a Latin groove with Pleasant and Big Black supplying infectious rhythms. Kenny Burrell's "Chitlins Con Carne" is performed as a funky blues while Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now, " often played as a slow ballad, is taken a little faster than usual while remaining tasteful and melodic. The Bert Kaempfert pop tune "Spanish Eyes" is transformed to a catchy number with all three musicians contributing to the successful version. Organist Jack McDuff's strutting blues "Our Miss Brooks, " Jobim's "Triste" (taken as a fast bossa), and an unusual version of "Dearly Beloved" that does not have its melody emerge until its conclusion, precede a joyful rendition of "Fascinating Rhythm" and the brief closing theme, "A Little Tutu." Doug MacDonald was born in Philadelphia and raised in Hawaii and spent periods living and playing music in Las Vegas, and has been an important part of the Southern California jazz scene for decades. While he has worked with such notables as Buddy Rich, Ray Charles, Bill Holman, Jack Sheldon and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, he has led nearly 30 albums of his own since 1979. Whether heard as an unaccompanied soloist, in a duo, sextet or octet, or heading a chamber ensemble or his own Jazz Coalition Big Band, Doug MacDonald can always be relied upon to create memorable and swinging music. Live At The Rancho Mirage Library, which showcases his inventive guitar playing and close interplay with his longtime musical associates, is one of his finest recordings to date. Artist: DOUG MACDONALD AND THE COACHELLA VALLEY TRIO Title: LIVE AT THE RANCHO MIRAGE LIBRARY Artist Website: https://www.dougmacdonald.net Label: Dmac Music Catalog Number: DM26 Release Date: October 1, 2024 UPC Code: 198595321782 TRACK LISTING 1. It's A Blue World Chet Forrest and Bob Wright (5:19) 2. Lady Bird Tadd Dameron (5:23) 3. Chitlins Con Carne Kenny Burrell (5:56) 4. If You Could See Me Now Tadd Dameron (6:10) 5. Spanish Eyes Bert Kaempfert, Charlie Singleton, Eddie Snyder (5:17) 6. Triste Antônio Carlos Jobim (6:39) 7. Our Miss Brooks Brother Jack McDuff (6:25) 8. Dearly Beloved Johnny Mercer and Jerome Kern (4:42) 9. Fascinating Rhythm George & Ira Gershwin (5:35) 10. A Little Tutu Harry "Sweets" Edison (1:47) Stephen "Kato" Garcia - Live Mix Engineer. David Williams - Mastering. Ben Scholz - Co Producer. Recorded live on 4/24/24 at Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory, a facility of the City of Rancho Mirage. MUSICIANS: Doug MacDonald - guitar, Larry Holloway - bass, Tim Pleasant - drums, Special guest Big Black - djembe write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |