Reunion: Live at WICN – Greg Abate/Paul Del Nero Quartet
Label: Summit Records
Release date: June '23
Catalog number: 815A reunion of friends 40 years in the making on an extremely tasty performance to an intimate studio audience at WICN FM in Worcester, Massachusetts!
Saxophonist greg Abate has released a steady output of rewarding sessions as a leader in his career, dating back to his 1981 debut Without Boundaries (World). this quartet features his old friend, Paul Del Nero (bass), with whom he played in the fusion group Channel One in the late ’70s, and later in the Artie shaw Orchestra, before their careers diverged. they kept in touch, playing together on occasion, and finally realized they needed to co-lead a new band. they recruited Matt DeChamplain (piano), a faculty member at Abate’s alma mater (the Hartt school – university of Hartford) and gary Johnson (drums, and son of the late reed player Dick Johnson, alum and former leader of the Artie shaw Orchestra). this live recording, made at WICN-FM in Worcester, MA with a small studio audience, focuses on the co-leaders’ original compositions.
the set begins with Abate’s “Maria’s Ocean”, an upbeat bop vehicle reminiscent of Phil Woods, though Abate’s approach to the alto is very different from the late jazz master. Abate’s breezy “Light speed” showcases his formidable bop chops, while DeChamplain contributes two inventive choruses. Abate switches to soprano for “the Fifth season”, a bossa nova gem. Del Nero’s “Clare’s Ostinato”, showcasing the co-leader’s flute playing, utilizes a tantalizing piano/bass ostinato as a recurring theme throughout the piece. the bassist’s “Mose Knows” is a sinewy blues inspired by the composer’s work with the late Mose Allison. the rhythm section provides a stimulating backdrop for Abate’s expressive alto saxophone playing, while DeChamplain’s inspired bop piano stands out. the one cover is a loping treatment of Charlie Parker’s classic “Quasimodo”, which brings out its playful twists. strong solos by Del Nero, Abate and DeChamplain add to its luster.
the lively studio sound from this recording gives the listener the feeling of actually being in the audience for this enjoyable quartet date.
-The New York City Jazz Record
REVIEW:
Before a small radio studio audience, the team of Greg Abate/ts-as-ss-fl, Paul Del Nero/b, Matt DeChamplain/p and Gary Johnson/dr drove up the wattage on this swinging collection of mostly originals. Abate shows his bop chops on the alto as Johnson soft shoes the brushes on “Quasimodo”, while the drummer rumbles for Abate on the cool toned “Reunion”. Del Nero and DeChamplain are featured under Abates’s soprano on the glowing “Fifth Season” and the team sounds modern and fresh during “Within Reach” There’s a modal mood to “Positive Energy” and Del Nero gets a feature on the easy swinger of “ DSR”. A floating flute is a numbus cloud for “Clare’s Ostinado” while De Champlain shines on “Light Speed”. The sparks were flying!
-Jazz Weekly
REVIEW:
Saxophonist and flutist Greg Abate and bassist Paul Del Nero are old friends who first played together in 1977 in the fusion band Channel One. They also both toured in the mid-1980s as members of the Artie Shaw Orchestra when it was directed by Dick Johnson. After that time, Abate became well known as a masterful bop-based soloist while Del Nero taught at Berklee for 30 years while also maintaining a playing career.
Reunion has the two musicians getting back together and co-leading a quartet that also includes pianist Matt DeChamplain and drummer Gary Johnson. They perform eight Abate originals, three by Del Nero, and Charlie Parker’s “Quasimodo.”
The music ranges from classic bop (including “Maria’s Ocean” and “Quasimodo” which was Parker’s medium-tempo exploration of the chord changes of “Embraceable You”) to the jazz waltz “Light Speed,” the medium-tempo ballad “Clare’s Ostinado” (an excellent showcase for Abate’s flute playing), and the harmonically advanced “Within Reach.” Abate is mostly heard on alto where his sound is most personal but he also sounds impressive playing a bit of tenor, soprano (most notably on “Fifth Season), and flute. DeChamplain displays a fluent, witty and swinging style, occasionally putting in song quotes (including “Moanin’” on “DSR”). Johnson is a subtle and supportive drummer while Del Nero takes a fair number of relatively brief solos and keeps the quartet constantly swinging.
It all works quite well, making Reunion (which was recorded live at radio station WICN in Worcester, Massachusetts) easily recommended to anyone who enjoys high-quality straight ahead jazz. It is available from www.summitrecords.com.
-Scott Yanow for LA Jazz Scene
