Reviews for "Salt N' Pepper"
Challenge Records
Martin Wind “Salt’n Pepper”
Challenge Records CR73272
Jazzpodium, Germany
Manchmal gibt es sie noch, jene Mainstreamplatten, die nicht zum x-ten Mal Klieschees aufwaermen,
Sondern neue oder vergessene Ingridenzien einfuegen oder - um mit dem Titel der neuen CD des Bassisten Martin Wind zu sprechen - den Einheitsbrei aufpeppen. Wind - seit zehn Jahren in New York ansaessiger Flensburger - hat auf “Salt’n Pepper” gemeinsam mit dem Saxophonisten Scott Robinson, dem Pianisten Bill Cunliffe und dem Schlagzeuger Greg Hutchinson so eine Platte gemacht. Sein Mainstream ist intelligent und mit verschmitztem Laecheln praesentiert. Jedes der zehn Stuecke wartet mit anderen Ideen auf, seien dies ein frei stroemendes Intro in “Remember October 13th”, eine fluesterned-wispernde dynamische Gestaltung in “Big Al”, oder ein von Wind melancholisch gestrichenes Thema in “Come Sunday”. Insbesondere Scott Robinson verleiht dem Sound eine sensible Note. Sein Tenorsaxophon-Sound ist schlank und zart, seine Linien sehr geschmackvoll gebaut. Auf der Bassclarinette kommt dies noch besser zur Geltung. Martin Wind selbst dirigiert aus dem Hintergrund - falls es den denn angesichts des engen Ineinandergreifens der vier Instrumentalisten ueberhaupt gibt - und setzt gefuehlvolle Sologlanzlichter.
Die CD vermittelt eine gute Nachtricht: Der Mainstream ist noch nicht totgespielt.
Thorsten Meyer
Sometimes they still exist, those mainstream albums that don’t heat up old clichees, but rather add new or forgotten ingredients or - to stay within the language of bassist Martin Wind’s new album - pep up the regular stew. Wind, who was born in Flensburg, Germany and who’s been living in New York for the past 10 years has achieved exactly that together with Saxophonist Scott Robinson, pianist Bill Cunliffe, and drummer Greg Hutchinson on his album “Salt’n Pepper!”. His music is intelligent and comes along with a smile. Every one of the ten tracks displays different ideas, as in the free streaming intro to “Remember October 13th”, a whispering dynamic development in “Big Al”, or a melancholically bowed melody in “Come Sunday”. Especially Scott Robinson enriches the sound with a sensitive quality. His tenor sound is slender and tender, and his lines are tastefully constructed. On bass clarinet these qualities are evident even more.
Martin Wind himself directs from the background - if you can even talk of such a thing in face of the close connectedness between the four instrumentalists - and delivers emotional and soulful solo gems.
This CD carries a good message: mainstream jazz is not played to death yet!
All About Jazz, Judith Schlesinger
Salt’n Pepper
Bassist Martin Wind has appeared on more than 80 CDs and movie soundtracks, and is a pillar of groups led by pianists Bill Mays and Don Friedman, drummer Matt Wilson, and pianist/singer Dena DeRose. “Salt n' Pepper!” is a rare outing for Wind as leader, and reveals talents that go beyond his enviable bass chops and big ears.
For one thing, the CD really showcases his formidable gifts as composer, since seven of the ten tunes are his. The others are Ellington and Evans classics, and a jaunty version of Monk's rarely-heard "Bright Mississippi," which was written over the changes to "Sweet Georgia Brown." Wind's good taste, versatility, and dry humor are also evident throughout in his producer's choice of sound, pacing, and arrangements.
The opener signals that this will be an intriguing journey: "Dream" begins with a splendid solo by Bill Cunliffe and then weaves through different landscapes, just like a nocturnal reverie. Given the consistently high quality of this CD, it's difficult to pick highlights, but favorites include the droll "Remember October 13th," a swinging "Turn Out the Stars," the thoughtful "Cruise Blues" and the riotous "Early Morning Blues," neither of which follows the predictable blues formula. Wind's playing is very strong throughout--both lyrical and swinging--and his arco commentary on "Come Sunday" is particularly rich and satisfying. In fact, each member of the Martin Wind Quartet is world-class, with multi-reedist Scott Robinson providing imaginative instrumentation and unusually atmospheric playing.
In the liner notes to “Salt 'N Pepper!”, Matt Wilson describes the quartet as "sonic chefs" who blend basic condiments and flavors into "an extraordinary menu." Stretching the culinary metaphor a little further, it can be said that this varied buffet of fresh and favorite melodies, rendered so wonderfully by this stellar group of musicians, is nothing less than delicious.