Laura Klein and Ted WolffJazz Duo |
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Cerulean Blue
Reviews"Received this excellent CD, and it is a winner!
Laura and Ted are maybe not all that well known yet, but are exceptional musicians. This is top class jazz!" "This is the duo's first record date, but, with this achievement, there should certainly be more." All the virtues of the jazz duo are heard on Cerulean Blue. Here, we have pianist Laura Klein and vibraphonist Ted Wolff together, creating an eminently listenable recording. It is obvious they have played together many times listening to them anticipate and flesh out each other's ideas. Although Klein writes that they were initially inspired by the Gary Burton/Chick Corea collaborations, they have developed an exciting, lyrical and highly interactive style of their own. The tracks include originals by both Klein and Wolff, along with jazz standards and American pop favorites. Klein was raised in New York City. After studying piano at the Manhattan School of Music and getting a BA in Music from SUNY Buffalo, she has taught jazz at Berklee College of Music. Now living in San Francisco, she regularly plays at local venues, including popular Yoshi's. Extremely talented, she is both a performer and composer. Wolff is a Bay Area native. He also attended Berklee where he met Klein. He has, notably, performed with guitarists Bill Frisell and Mike Stern and drummer Joe Hunt. Heavily influenced by vibe player Burton, Wolff has a particularly warm sound as is apparent on this CD. Some highlights include the title track written by Klein. After a slow pensive opening, the two get down into a bluesy mood accentuated by Klein's hint of stride, while Wolfe's light and breezy "Peau Douce" particularly shows off their interplay. Exhibiting how they take standards and re-shape them with their improvisational skill is Jimmy Van Heusen's "It Could Happen to You." Another case, in Cole Porter's intense "I Concentrate On You," Wolff takes prominence on the melody but just as interesting is how Klein skillfully noodles behind him. On Pat Matheny's "The Chief," Wolfe underlines his skill with the mallets. This is the duo's first record date, but, with this achievement, there should certainly be more.
The sound of the vibes and piano together is altogether satisfying and often stunningly pretty. Hopefully we'll hear more. Klein and Wolff, both Berklee grads turned San Franciscans, have created a well-conceived album of bop, standards, a contemporary touch here and there, and several impressive originals. Kenny Barron's "Voyage" has by now become a jazz staple. It is played to perfection in this duo setting. From the standard book there's 'It Could Happen To You' and 'I Concentrate On You.' Another jazz composition which seems on its way toward that elusive 'forever' status is J. J. Johnson's 'Lament.' The remainder of the album is devoted to several originals plus a few contemporary forays into the music of Steve Swallow, Wayne Shorter and Pat Metheny. The sound of the vibes and piano together is altogether satisfying and often stunningly pretty. Hopefully we'll hear more."
-George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon Close "Cerulean Blue is a wonderful CD! The music made by these two very fine musicians is lyrical, swinging and always engaging. My goals as a jazz musician are mirrored in the way Laura and Ted play together. They listen to each other, and they let the music develop. And it helps that they are good friends!! My special favorite on the CD is 'I Concentrate on You'. Such an epic tune, and so well played by them. Three cheers! And five thumbs up!" ...a rewarding debut CD by two artists who have their own identities, but merge into this thoughtful duo. Cerulean Blue is a series of vibraphone/piano duets on Jazz compositions by Kenny Barron, Steve Swallow, Wayne Shorter, J.J. Johnson and Pat Matheny as well as one Porter, on Van Heusen and four originals. I had not heard of either Wolff or Klein, but they are fully-accomplished soloists and fine team players, staying out of each other's way when necessary and operating as a cohesive duo, mutually supporting one another. Inspired, they say by Gary Burton and Chick Corea, Klein and Wolff come by their artistic unity the only way; they have been playing together since the Seventies and this is their debut CD, reflecting their shared intuition and experience. Although both of them play their respective keyboards with great facility, they resist the temptation to overwhelm the listener with string of rapid-fire notes, or, paradoxically, to meander, creating washes of sound without much rhythmic motion. They can propel the music (Barron's "Voyage") or muse (Klein's "In a Grain of Sand") with equal facility and effect. I found the key-changing that the duo used on "It Could Happen To You" more tricky than musical, but perhaps they wanted to bring new life to this standard, and their "I Concentrate On You" is lovely. It's a rewarding debut CD by two artists who have their own identities, but merge into this thoughtful duo.
Cadence Magazine Close Nothing but unabashed joy on this great little piano and vibraphone CD... Nothing but unabashed joy on this great little piano (Laura) and vibraphone (Ted) CD; though this is our first listen to their magical works, it surely won't be the last. Their high-spirited and fun-filled playing will elevate you to heights you hadn't even imagined before... it's one of those "sleeper" WOW albums that only catch your ear once you've played it the second time around, but that makes it even better for the long haul. Just amazing how tightly they are knit together in their playing - I mean, every note is on time and wrapped 'round the other instrument so sublimely that you don't even realize these are two folks playing together. It all makes perfect sense when you check out their bios... they've been playing together ever since they first met at Berklee College of Music many years ago. For those in our readership, I strongly suggest that you check out "Impromp-2"... it's only 3:25, but their intricate weave together was clearest on this one for me... it comes close to being my favorite, but the one that actually captured that position was the opener, "Voyage", a Kenny Barron tune that they are RIGHT ON time with from the opening note to the last bar. This CD gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "most joyful jazz"... "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.97.
-Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation Close
Initially inspired by the recordings of Bill Evans/Jim Hall, Gary Burton/Chick Corea, and Lyle Mays/Pat Metheny, Ted and Laura have developed their own personal approach to the jazz duo format. Their CD is a showcase for a delightful range of textures, tempos, and spontaneous interplay. Laura and Ted have taken full advantage of the great freedom the duo format provides. You'll find lots of variety and interest on this CD, as they take you through a wide range of musical styles and forms.
Through years of playing together, Laura and Ted have developed an intuitive and playful musical rapport. With this debut CD, they invite you to join them on their musical journey. Produced by Laura Klein and Ted Wolff
Recorded at Auraline Studio, Berkley CA May 25-26 and July 24 2008 Recorded and mixed by Jeff Cressman • Mastered by Ken Lee Design by bSharpDesign.com Original art by Laura Klein | ||||||||||||||||||
This is the debut recording by this unique duo. It features four original tunes, fresh new arrangements of two well known standards, and compelling interpretations of the music of Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Wayne Shorter, J.J. Johnson, and Kenny Barron.
For example, listen to the beginning of the piano solo in "A Grain of Sand", and check out those beautiful sychronized harmonies by the piano and vibes. In Wayne Shorter's Aung San Suu Kyi notice the piano's strong Gospel-like groove, giving the vibes a solid platform to climb and soar. From the elegant and tasteful "I Concentrate on You" to the burning opener "Voyage", the performances are satisfying and complete. You can hear how each musician is acutely attuned to what the other is playing.