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CD REVIEW - JEFF "Siege" SIEGEL

by Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson
Jeff Siege Siegel Quartet Live In Europe
(Artists Recording Collective, 2008)
Live in Europe exemplifies the expression of parts being equal to their sum. Eac
h artist drummer and leader Jeff Siege Siegel, tenor saxophonist Erica Lindsay, pian
ist Francesca Tanksley, and bassist Danton Boller contributes humbly to this trove
of engaging musical dialogue. The release is comprised of six tunes cherry-pick
ed from two live radio recordings from 2005, done while the quartet was on tour.
Elvin s Circle captures and releases drummer Elvin Jones s spiritual high energy to th
e wind.
Lindsay steps into the role of the various saxophonists that Jones had sparred w
ith in his career Joe Farrell, Sonny Fortune, Frank Foster, and John Coltrane and ru
ns the tune smooth. Shifting Sands shuts the door and dims the lights. Lindsay is
romantic without the candy and flowers. Her notes are like ink, bleeding evenly
through Boller s rounded bass notes. Stealth takes on a number of personas in a mood
y 3/4 time and in a rousing 4/4 swing. As the piece reverts back to 3/4, it gath
ers energy from Siegel s freestyle solo. Shirley Horn, a singer whose very presenc
e evoked elegance as she spoke of the pathos of life and love, is exalted in Reme
mbering Shirley, a gorgeous blues written by Siegel, who also coleads the Stevens
, Siegel & Ferguson Trio. Lindsay and Tanksley have a soulful rapport that is du
tifully supported by Boller and Siegel. So when do we get to hear the other perf
ormances from the two radio dates? We d like to continue the joy we find listening
to Live in Europe.
http://www.chronogram.com/issue/2008/12/Music/CD-Review-Jeff-Siege-Siegel-Quarte
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CD REVIEW - LEE SHAW
Featured Artist: Lee Shaw Trio
CD Title: Live In Graz
Year: 2008
Record Label: Arc (Artists Recording Collective)
Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic
Musicians: Lee Shaw (piano), Rich Syracuse (bass), Jeff Siegel (drums)
Review: Many excellent jazz musicians go relatively unnoticed in their careers.
Well known and respected among fellow players, they often settle down to playing
gigs locally, away from mainstream notice, while recording occasionally. Such a
person is pianist Lee Shaw.
Now at 82, Shaw's jazz chops are still well-honed as heard in the new release Le
e Shaw Trio: Live in Graz, recorded in Graz, Austria. Included with the CD is a
DVD which features footage and stills from the trio's 2007 European tour, plus a
bonus track not included on the CD. The real value of the footage, though, is s
een in interviews with Shaw, both alone and with her longtime colleagues, bassis
t Rich Syracuse and drummer Jeff Siegel.
Born in Oklahoma in 1926, Shaw left for Chicago to study classical music but soo
n turned to jazz. She married drummer Stan Shaw, formed a trio and went on to Ne
w York City. The two moved to Albany in the seventies where she began a career i
n teaching music and the trio started playing around the area. After husband Sta
n died in 2001, she formed her current trio.
Over the years she has played with many greats from Dexter Gordon to Thad Jones.
Her influences include Oscar Peterson and Billy Taylor. On this recording her s
tately style suggests Peterson, if not for his whirlwind technique but his swing
ing sensibility.
The trio is exemplary-bassist Syracuse weaving in and out of her solos, while ge
tting plenty of time to show off his marvelous creativity. Also getting many opp
ortunities to shine, drummer Siegel is a solid anchor and an inventive soloist.
The play list is a mixture of interesting, seldom-heard tunes, ranging from Bill
y Taylor's "Easy Walker" (joyfully exhibiting her vibrant, straight-ahead style)
, Victor Young's "Street of Dreams" (effectively conjuring an hypnotic spell, ab
etted by Syracuse's strong bass) and Ahmad Jamahl's "Night Mist" (wonderfully le
tting go, leading the group in an all-out effort, concluding with Siegel's rocki
ng drum solo).
Among Shaw's outstanding compositions is the thoughtful, pensive "Song Without W
ords"; the impressionistic Debussy-like "Rain Threads" which includes Siegel's c
ymbal shower; and her memoriam to husband Stan, "Stan's Song," highlighted by Sy
racuse's haunting bowed-bass solo.
This album is a treasure-waiting for jazz fans to find.
Tracks: Easy Walker(Intro), Easy Walker, Song Without Words (Intro), Song Withou
t Words, Elegy, Rain Threads (Intro), Rain Threads, Street of Dreams (Intro), St
reet of Dreams, Foots, Stan's Song (Intro), Stan's Song, Night Mist (Intro), Nig
ht Mist
Artist's Website: http://www.leeshaw.org
Reviewed by: Larry Taylor
http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-20175.html
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