Marvin Stamm Live At Birdland CD

Why a "live" CD? Why at Birdland?There are times when everything just seems right for doing something like this. The quartet had several bookings in the New York area within the space of eight days - a concert in Connecticut, the COTA Festival in Delaware Water Gap, PA, and four nights in Birdland in New York City. Ed Soph and I had been talking about recording another CD, and this seemed to be the perfect time. We've spoken often of making a "live" recording of the quartet because this is how we play - the music open and "controlled" only by our own musical communication, sensitivity, and taste. This is who we really are as a group!Birdland seemed to be the optimum place for several reasons: the owners have created a "customer-friendly" environment that produces a relaxed atmosphere for the audiences; the New York audiences at Birdland are musically "hip" audiences; Birdland has installed quality recording equipment, making it unnecessary to bring in outside equipment. Working with these musicians as a group - Ed, Bill, and Rufus - always produces very special moments. None of us takes these events for granted or looks upon them as "just another gig." Each of us really comes to play! We invited John Abercrombie to join us at Birdland. He has performed with us several times in the past and fits in beautifully with our approach to the music. John is an extraordinarily sensitive and gifted musician. For me, performing with this group is a pinnacle of sorts because these are the guys with whom I want to play; they are my choice! Marvin Stamm, 2005

Marvin Stamm: Marvin Stamm; Rufus Reid (bass instrument); Ed Stoph (drums); Bill Mays.
Personnel: Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Abercrombie (guitar); Bill Mays (piano); Ed Soph (drums).
Additional personnel: John Abercrombie.
Liner Note Authors: Marvin Stamm; Ed Soph.
Recording information: Birdland, New York, NY (09/11/2003-09/13/2003).
Photographers: Charles Baxter; Judith Kirtley.
The Marvin Stamm and Ed Soph project consists of four veteran musicians, including trumpeter and flugelhornist Marvin Stamm, drummer Ed Soph, pianist Bill Mays and bassist Rufus Reid, plus special guest John Abercrombie on guitar (on four tracks), all of whom have long since established their jazz credentials. But these great players also know something about writing challenging yet accessible charts. Stamm's unusual "Samba du Nancy" begins with Soph's long drum solo, with Mays gradually adding raindrop-like accompaniment before the piece evolves into a brisk post-bop flavored samba as the flugelhornist makes his entrance. Mays contributed "In Her Arms," a piece with a Latin undercurrent that stimulates the soloists, along with his infectious "Gemma's Eyes," which moves in and out of a waltz setting. Reid penned the cheerful "When She Smiles Upon Your Face" (which deserves lyrics, if it doesn't already have some), along with the funky closer "The Meddler." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden