MARCUS MILLER, MICHEL PETRUCCIANI, BIRELI LAGRENE, LENNY WHITE, KENNY GARRETT
Drefus Night In Paris

Dreyfus

Dreyfus Night In Paris is a gem of a CD that provides the excitement that is too often missing from all star blowing sessions. The reason for this is likely not only the talent of the musicians individually, but the way in which they are able to become a really outstanding ensemble even though they certainly hadn’t rehearsed for this concert.

Any group anchored by bassist Marcus Miller and drummer Lenny White is going to be capable of swinging and of providing some righteous funk, and saxophonist Kenny Garrett can make himself at home in any environment. Gypsy guitarist Bireli Lagrene and French pianist Michel Petrucciani add their very individual voices to the group while fitting perfectly into the ensemble sound.

Two of the pieces performed are composed by Marcus Miller. The opening number, “Tutu” has achieved the status of a modern jazz classic in the years since Miles Davis and Miller first committed it to record. That it sounds just as good with acoustic piano and nary a synthesizer in sight is testament to its timeless beauty as a composition. Garrett, himself a Miles alumni, takes a good solo on this one, and both Lagrene and Petrucciani do well with the tune, with Miller himself providing the final solo turn.

“The King Is Gone” is a slower number that is introduced by the hushed sound of White’s brushwork. After the melodic statement Miller plays a bass solo over the swinging accompaniment of White and Petrucciani. Next soloist up is Petrucciani, and he builds nicely in a short period, only to recede for Garrett’s soprano sax entrance. Garrett delivers the goods in his solo, keeping things interesting rhythmically. Lagrene comes on like a mix of Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, and Jim Hall, and his solo is well received by the audience. After a brief drum solo the piece ends with a mournful statement by Miller on bass clarinet and Garrett on soprano.

The final tune is a Petrucciani composition entitled “Looking Up.” It begins in with something of a gospel feel but quickly turns into a breezy melody with a Caribbean beat. Miller’s popping bass is a little out of step here, very much at odds with what the other musicians are doing here, but that’s a relatively small complaint. The piece allows the five musicians to solo on a piece with a decidedly different mood, and they all take advantage of the opportunity. As the piece builds in intensity it’s hard not to imagine people up and dancing in the aisles.

Dreyfus Night In Paris is one of those rare treasures that delight the jazz fan who finds that many CDs fail to live up to their expectations. It arrives without fanfare and delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience without pretension. If the promise of this CD lies mainly in its lineup of musicians, it delivers on that promise with a performance in which each musician is featured, each plays up to their ability, and each contributes to the sound of the group as a whole.