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| CD REVIEW |
ADVENTURES IN JAZZLAND - JEFF HEALEY (HealyOphonic Records 2004) CD Review by Diane Wells |
| The recent addition of D. Litt (Doctor of Letters) to his name is yet another feather in the cap of this outspoken representative of traditional American jazz musicology. On Adventures in Jazzland, Dr. Healey and company authentically recapture the devilishly joyous spirit of honky-tonks and riverboats, but without the �scratchy� swish of well-worn vinyl. He�s come a long way since I first heard him dazzle the Colonial in the �80s. The term �jazz� holds many different connotations to music fans, both young and old, especially when its original, multi-layered but highly-structured format was fused with swing, blues and, later on, hard-rock music, becoming much more �free-form�. The identifying instruments of traditional jazz would probably be attributed to the trumpet, clarinet, saxophone and bass, but it was the shrillness of the trumpet that always used to turn me off while listening to my father�s traditional jazz records. Unfortunately, that hasn�t changed much, although I find the cornet somewhat less annoying in tone. Nevertheless, apart from his adeptness on the trumpet, Jeff also plays valve trombone and jazz guitar, as well as making good use of his made-for-scatting vocals (�You�re Driving Me Crazy�). For anyone who misses his blistering blues-rock guitar, it won�t take long for you to forget about that when listening to the more subtle techniques employed here. Jazz and gypsy swing guitarist Jesse Barksdale (Lori Cullen, David Dunlap) adds to the mix on rhythm guitar on several of these tracks, all covers by his favourite jazz heroes. Speaking of heroes, he lives out an additional dream by including cornetist Tom Pletcher, bass saxophonist Vince Giordano and rhythm/lead guitarist Marty Grosz on this follow-up to 2001�s Among Friends, although Tom�s cornet tracks were laid down separately. Along with Jeff�s mainstay Jazz Wizards (Ross Wooldridge on clarinet and Colin Bray on bass), numerous other players are often invited to join in on live performances. On this recording, regular addition Reide Kaiser often creates a �player piano� effect on his keys, while bassist Colin Bray works his nimble but powerful fingers to the bone. Drummer Gary Scrivens adds extra percussion and Dan Levinson alternates on clarinet and C-Melody saxophone. Christopher Plock performs on soprano and baritone saxes. My favourite boogie-danceable recordings were �My Honey�s Lovin� Arms� (Meyer/Ruby), �Three Little Words� (Kalmar/Ruby), �My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now� (Caesar/Friend) and �Indiana�. Closing the CD is one of a couple of laid-back, pleasant instrumentals, �Little Buttercup� (Signorelli)�, featuring Jeff, Marty and Dan. Being a �musical godfather� in the Greater Toronto Area, Jeff has no hesitation in introducing up-and-coming musicians, such as his new musical prot�g�e, violinist Drew Jurecka. Mr. Jurecka is indeed outstanding on �Mine, All Mine� (with its �Ain�t She Sweet� kind of melody), as well as �Someday, Sweetheart�. Adventures in Jazzland might not be �rock�, but it IS party music for the young at heart! |
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