Jazz Improv Magazine 4/00Vol 2 Number 3
PERSONNEL: Ron Kaplan, vocals,
Larry Scala, guitar; Guiseppe Merolla, drums; Perry Thoorsell, bass;
Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Steve Czarnecki, Hammond B-3 organ; Dmitri
Matheny, flugelhorn. By Eric Nemeyer Some artists create albums for their
own enjoyment. Some artists create recordings for the apparent purpose
of showing off their incredible technique to impress listeners, record
executives and anyone they can get to lend an ear. Ron Kaplan is different.
Ron Kaplan has impeccable taste. It's quite evident that Kaplan's second
self-produced recording, Lounging Around is sensitively
put together for the listener's enjoyment. Kaplan has chosen a set of eleven appealing
songs from the repertoire of Great American standards and jazz tunes. Kaplan opens the set with a relaxed
rendition of the Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen classic, "Here's That
Rainy Day," as a bossa nova. Kaplan has a distinctive and identifiable
sound that is quite evident here. Donny McCaslin, a standout among today's
active young tenor sax players, contributes a sparkling solo. Kaplan employs some short, playful and
apropos sound effects on this album. On "Here's That Rainy Day" the
music is preceded with the sound of rain in the background; and you'll
hear the sound of a whistle from a train chugging along, during the
night, somewhere down the track, as the opening to "Blues In The Night." On "Blues in The Night" Kaplan's intimate
and elegant sound is tantalizingly supported by the down-home textures
of Steve Czarnecki on Hammond B-3, and Larry Scala on guitar. Next up is an Antonio Carlos Jobim favorite,
"How Insensitive." In the distance, you hear the echo of a lonely muted
trumpet, out of tempo, playing a pensive cadenza--hinting at the sadness
of the upcoming lyric. The rhythm section enters gracefully and--unexpectedly
for this listener provides Kaplan with an up-tempo samba groove. Kaplan
delivers. Kaplan deftly communicates the mood and emotion of the lyric,
which is all about the heartfelt end of a love affair. Cole Porter's "Just One of Those
Things" is a medium up-tempo groover. A catchy introduction by McCaslin
on tenor also serves as the jumping off point for his in-the-pocket
solo. This track is just right for Kaplan. Just the right tempo, the
tune gives Kaplan the right space to demonstrate his ability to swing. "Caravan," the classic by Duke Ellington
and Juan Tizol, opens with a tango-like ostinato bass line. The other
accompanists enter gently, and are shortly followed by Kaplan's smooth
entrance, bringing the song and the players into focus. Tenor saxophonist
McCaslin and Scala on guitar follow with tasteful solos. Kaplan's pensive rendition of "In The
Wee Small Hours of The Morning" is captivating. Accompanied during the
first chorus by solo guitar, this performance is an example of Kaplan's
most sensitive and thoughtful work. Kaplan. Metheny and Scala fit together
ideally to make magic on this one. Matheny's flugelhorn solo is debonair. Some artists use diversity to anthologize themselves and prove that they can be everything to everybody. Kaplan employs diversity for the benefit of the listener, and Lounging Around is an example of the use of diversity to personalize this album to please the listener.
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