This is the first of three new albums that were recently recorded. The reason for the 4 year delay between this and my previous album "Prelude" was due to medical and health issues. I am a mainstream pianist and you won't find any Avant-Garde stuff on my albums. I leave that to others. I just want to play pretty music that has the widest appeal to as many listerners as possible.
JAMES BONGIORNO
THIS IS THE MOMENT - The Bonge, www.ampzilla2000.com. This is the Moment; On Green Dolphin Street; Wave; Fools Rush In; the Itty, Bitty, Nitty, Gritty Low Down Funky Dirty Blues for the Bassman Song; Here's That Rainy Day; Have You Met Miss Jones; I've Got a Crush on You; All the Things You Are; Falling in Love With Love; Bye Bye Blackbird.
PERSONNEL: James Bongiorno, piano; Del Atkins, bass; Rayford Griffin, Drums.
By Bob Gish
Here we go, with James and Del and Rayford on a swingin' ride where this moment morphs into a kind of eternal moment where standards reign - plus a clever original tune by the one and only Mr. doBonge himself (AKA James Bongiorno). By whatever name, these three "musicateers" play their hearts out and their socks off. It's a romping good time for all, especially listeners.
The title track leads the pack in a softly swingin' way introducing the great companionship among pianist, bassist,, and drummer. It's an ideal combination, and a familiar one, of a jazz trio suited for quiet but passionate club dates. Del Atkins is superb throughout, whether taking a solo or walking the bass line for his amigos. In many ways, he's a stellar standout and the group just wouldn't have its unique, laid back style without him. His solo on "On Green Dolphin Street," is exemplary for all beginning and accomplished bassists - for here we see the difference between soloing and bass lines in highlighted fashion. Rayford Griffin, too, is indispensable to the trio and its sound, providing just the right rhythms at just the right time, underscoring all the changes Bongiorno and Atkins are making.
Bongiorno's opening on the Jobim classic, "Wave" is pure delight. It begins slowly like a wave coming in from the distance, pure corduroy to sunset as the surfers say. But this isn't surfer music, this is Brazilian bossa at its best, with Griffin providing just the right clave rhythms as the waves of sound soon crest into a soothing solo by Bongiorno, kept on the straight and narrow by his trusty sideman, Atkins. Here we see just why "Wave" is such a popular tune, so suitable for interpretation and improvisation. It's so satisfying that one wishes the Bongester would cut an entire Jobim CD. May we so hope.
Part of the pleasantry of the project is the choice and set sequence of the tunes. No sooner does one ride the waves of "Wave" than the old ballad "Fools Rush In" appears (recorded by everyone under the sun, including Ricky Nelson!) No rockabilly here, however, Bongiorno's piano takes over in a long, flourishing chorus that soon settles into just the right easy, fingersnapping chord melody reinforced again by the stellar sensibilities of Atkins and Griffin. Ah, one can but wish too for an entire CD featuring Atkins. His sound, whatever kind of bass, vintage or new, he's using is downright mellifluous and his solo here is perfectly pleasing if much too short! And few peers know the intricacies of brushes the way Griffin does. Yes, rhythm rules in more ways than one in this long cut.
All of the tracks are generous in their running time and one moves from standard to standard in the most seamless of ways. One just can't go wrong - at least these fellows don't - with the likes of Jobim, Bloom, Van Heusen, Rodgers, Gershwin, Kern, and Rodgers.
Atkins takes the lead on ""Itty, Bitty, Nitty, Gritty...Blues for the Bassman Song," setting just the right mood for the sense of the lyric, sound and sense blending into an organic whole. Bongiorno plays his part too; not just as the composer but also in a jazzy solo much in keeping with the dedication to the bass man. It is the bass man, however, who shines here in an impressive solo, fully accepting and in keeping of the song's intent and dedication. Bass and piano soon enter into a sustained call and response chorus that one hates to see end - bass coming round again to play in out just like it played it in.
"Here's That Rainy Day" lends itself to Latin rhythms in the most delightful ways. Wes Montgomery proved that for one, and the trio here realizes all the tune's bossa potential in a lilting arrangement, much the book end to their performance on "Wave."
"Miss Jones" struts out with all the exaggerated bumps and grinds of a latter day Miss Tempest Storm, if anyone remembers. Again, the arrangement is just right, and all new for what is usually a burner. "I've Got a Crush On You," complete with its wonderful verse, takes one back to Nat King Cole's landmark interpretation, and dare one say, his keyboard flourishes and mellow tones. "All the Things You Are" and "Falling in Love with Love," as well as the bonus track, "Bye Bye Blackbird" are all fine and dandy.
One would never know that Bongiorno, also a master on the accordion as well as the piano, made this recording under less than desirable health conditions, and limited rehearsal time. But no apologies are needed. Here's a great musician leading two great sidemen in a momentous recording.
Review from "The Audiophile Voice"
James Bongiorno This is the Moment
Bonge Records
Jim Keenan
A FEW YEARS AGO in these pages I reviewed James Bongiorno’s solo piano recording, Prelude. I reported enjoying that CD, and looked forward to hearing Mr. B in the trio setting being planned. Now here he is with that trio, and the new CD, This is the Moment, is worth the wait.
This time out, Mr. Bongiorno, again playing powerfully at the keyboard a Yamaha grand, is joined by Del Atkins on bass and Rayford Griffin on drums. Here, they are engaged in making an album primarily of American Songbook standards; there is one original.
Overall, this CD is mostly a joyride during which the pianist drives in high spirits over familiar terrain, while the drums and bass add propulsive force and occasional brief lead relief. This is solid mainstream jazz music, with plenty of melody, harmony and rhythm, as I mostly like it – no doodling along with ethereal chord voicings or super up-tempo races with the pianist running scales in the right hand with fixed chord banging in the left while the bass and drum play their own tunes (rant over).
There are 11 tunes, of which my favorite is “On Green Dolphin Street.” This hardy perennial is taken at mid-tempo with full statement and extended development of the melody by the pianist, over solid and thoughtful chord changes, with solid anchoring and propulsion by the other two musicians. The mood and tempo shift at times, at one point sliding into a Latin style for a bit, but the basic melody and rhythm are never lost. At another point, bassist Del Atkins provides a brief but enjoyable break. As with several of the other tunes on this CD, my feet they were a’tappin and my head was a‘boppin throughout.
Next in my list of favorites is Jobim’s “Wave.” It opens in a reflective mood and then eases into the familiar bossa nova style with good drum support. This piece is at a moderate tempo maybe best described as easy and steady swinging. More of my body parts came into motion to join feet and head.
Next on my list was the uptempo, driving “Falling in Love with Love” and the mid-tempo stroller “Bye Bye Blackbird.” The other tunes on the CD were all pretty good – no clunkers in the bunch.
I smiled at “Have You Met Miss Jones,” as the bluesy back-beat through a velvet curtain in a stripper’s costume, moving her body parts.
So, we have a CD of enjoyable, enthusiastic and inventive mainstream jazz playing, one you’d play just for the pleasure of it. The playing does have some rough edges, a bit less than total studio perfection but close to the enthusiasm of live music being played in a good jazz club. Bass is a bit heavy in the mix, but overall recording quality is good. There is a full-range dynamic with a fairly close perspective. The liner notes are best ignored in favor of the music. Buy this CD to share in the pleasure of the well-played music, more than for demo or audiophile-type sonics.
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