The Roger Kellaway Trio – Remembering Bobby Darin (with Bruce Forman, guitar & Dan Lutz, bass) – IPO Recordings

by | Jul 22, 2005 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The Roger Kellaway Trio – Remembering Bobby Darin (with Bruce
Forman, guitar & Dan Lutz, bass) – IPO Recordings IPOC1008 ****:

Kellaway uses the alternate piano trio configuration in jazz, patterned
after the Nat Cole Trio and Art Tatum Trio. Have to admit I much prefer
it since I don’t find most drummers in trios play like they’re in a
trio instead of a big band. Kellaway, famous for his Cello Quartet
ensemble album of some years back, served as Bobby Darin’s music
director for two and one-half years, so he comes to this music from a
close association with the celebrity singer.  He also tours with
actor Kevin Spacey, who performs Darin’s songs tied in with the recent
feature film on the singer’s life.

Kellaway has great fun with the arrangements, such as getting into
bi-tonality in the simplistic Splish Splash.  He engages in some
Kurt Weillish effects in the required Mack The Knife. Kellaway exults
that this compatriots are the first he’s had in some time who are adept
at playing in odd time signatures, so he pushes the envelope in that
direction. He also uses a toy piano on one track. Sonics are distinct
and well-differenciated  in the sometimes similar timbres of the
guitar and string bass.

Tracks: Remember, Up a Lazy River, I’ve Found a New Baby, Mediation,
More, Splish Splash, Oh! Look at Me Now, Once Upon a Time, I’m
Beginning to See the Light, Beyond the Sea, Mack the Knife.

– John Henry

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