New CD From Danish Jazz Guitarist Jacob Fischer

Jacob Fischer
(photo by Lisbet Nielsen)

Some time ago I pointed you to two CDs by the Danish jazz guitarist Jacob Fischer recorded in New York for the Japanese label Venus Records in 2013 - you can still read the review here. Last year Jacob Fischer was back in New York to record again, this time for Arbors Records - a Florida situated company. The recordings were made in the Avartar studios in New York City and comprise material released earlier this year on the CD shown below, which is the second release by Arbors of Jacob Fischer recordings - the first was recorded in 2011 featuring fellow guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli a.o. and released in 2012 (- more info here).

CD front, Jacob Fischer ... In New York City, Arbors, ARCD 19444

The new CD by Jacob Fischer has twelve tracks and Fischer is accompanied by three American musicians: Chuck Redd on vibes, John Webber on double bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Jacob Fischer plays an acoustic-elctric Alhambra nylon-string flamenco guitar in all tracks, and the sound of the instrument together with Chuck Redd's vibes reminded me of an album in my collection featuring the Charlie Byrd Trio recorded in 1997 for Concord Jazz with the title 'Au Courant' (CCD 4779-2). The CD also featured Chuck Redd on vibes and the album remains one of my favorites by Charlie Byrd from this period.

Chuck Redd, photo copied from DCJazz website

Chuck Redd, who is also a drummer, joined Charlie Byrd in 1980 as a vibraphonist and the same year he also joined Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis) on drums. He was featured internationally on tours with the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski, Terry Gibbs and Conte Candoli, and from 1991 until 1996 he was featured vibraphonist with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet. He has toured and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Tommy Flanagan, Dick Hyman, Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Laurindo Almeida, Tal Farlow, Red Norvo, Scott Hamilton, Mickey Roker and Frank Vignola. Further, Chuck Redd is featured on over 70 recordings and has released three CDs as a leader for Arbors, learn more at his official website, here 

John Webber, photo copied from smallsjazzclub.com

John Webber is a New York based double bass player, who leads his own trio named Bebop Generations. His primary inspiration as a bass player were Ray Brown and Paul Chambers, he has worked with musicians like Jimmy Scott, Lou Donaldson, Bill Hardman and Junior Cook, and he has been a regular bass player with Johnny Griffin and made records with Horace Silver and other musicians, learn more here 

Matt Wilson, photo by Michael Jackson

Matt Wilson is a New York based drummer,composer, bandleader, producer, and teaching artist. He leads his own Quartet and is an integral part of bands led by Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, a.o.. He has performed with many legends of music including Herbie Hancock, Dewey Redman, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Elvis Costello, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Marshall Allen, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell and Hank Jones. Matt Wilson has further appeared on 250 CDs as a sideman and has released 9 as a leader. Learn more about his career at the official website, here 

Jacob Fischer, photo by Bruce Lindsay, Jazz Journal

Jacob Fischer on guitar and Chuck Redd on vibes share solos on most tracks of the new CD from Abors, but both Webber and Wilson are also left solo space showing off their chops. The overall impression of the music is that the four musicians together create a consistent and very listenable output, the interplay between Fischer and Redd is excellent and the support by the two rhythm players is solid and sustains the lead solo players in an exemplary way. The repertoire chosen for the CD contains standards like Cole Porter's Love For Sale and Every Time We Say Goodbye in updated arrangements including a special intro in Love For Sale by Fischer's guitar using both harmonics and slide adding a true blues feeling to the tune. There is also a splendid arrangement of Irving Berlin's Putting On The Ritz and further great readings of modern standards like A Nightingale Sang In Berkely Square, Tenderly and Billy Strayhorn's Daydream. Oscar Pettiford's Laverne Walk marks the blues imprint, and Fischer's inspiration from Django Reinhardt is incorporated in the quartet's interpretation of Swing 42 and Fischer's own composition titled Napolitana. 

Jacob Fischer and his three fellow musicians have recorded a very listenable CD for Arbors that contributes well to the modern interpretation of swing, Fischer's solos and arrangements set him in the company of other estimated guitarists as a true artist who knows and acknowledges his roots, but who also has sufficient experience and gravity to fully convince the listener that he is himself as a guitarist. - The CD is highliy recommended and is available for purchase here and here 

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Jo

keepitswinging.domain@gmail.com

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