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Jon De Lucia: And the Stars Were Shining

By Richard J Salvucci
September 25, 2023
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Jon De Lucia: And the Stars Were Shining

All instruments can be difficult and some even look intimidating. Some are notoriously tough to play in tune. Some emit unpleasant sounds without much prompting, especially squeaks. Welcome to the world of the clarinet. Non-players often wonder how anyone coaxes pretty sounds from the beast. Some wonder how to coax out any sound at all. The sneaking suspicion is that jazz eventually marginalized the prominent role of the clarinet in Dixieland and Swing because Bop was a bridge too far. There were and are a select few who can or could have managed. They deserve much respect.

Jon De Lucia

saxophone, alto
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon De Lucia is one such player. De Lucia is a Brooklyn-based saxophonist, clarinetist and composer.

Originally from Quincy, MA, he moved to New York City in 2005. His teachers include

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz,

George Garzone

saxophone, tenor
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">George Garzone,

Greg Osby

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Osby, Bill Pierce,Joe Lovano, and Andrew Sterman. He has performed in the US and internationally at the Burlington Discover Jazz Fest, the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and the Tamana-shi Jazz Festival in Japan. Locally he has performed at the Blue Note, Smalls, Birdland, and outside NYC at the Regattabar, Body and Soul, Jazz INN Lovely, Alexanderplatz, Gregory's and more.

Here, he plays on the clarinet in A and Bb as well as the alto saxophone. It is hard to imagine a prettier recording, both in its conception and its execution. Accompanied unobtrusively by bass and drums, De Lucia manages to put together classical motifs from Bach ("Venice") romantic arias from Puccini ("E Lucevan Le Stelle") and strong echoes of

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond on alto sax ("Darien Mode"), and an up-tempo "Tangerine" which features

Tatsuya Sakurai

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Tatsuya Sakurai on electric guitar and

Aidan O'Donnell

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Aidan O'Donnell on string bass. No one really misses a drummer, although, here, perhaps, a solo drum break might have been welcome. There are listeners who might associate "Tangerine" with altoist

Richie Cole

saxophone, alto
1948 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Richie Cole. There is absolutely no echo of Cole here, which is a compliment to both him and De Lucia. But an affinity for boppish rhythms nevertheless peeks through, something that all good modern players have in common. Whether one prefers de Lucia on clarinet or sax is a matter of taste, but he executes equally well on both without making a fetish of technique.

It is a measure of De Lucia's talent that he manages to appeal to diverse tastes: singers, drummers, boppers, the occasional aficionado of trad jazz, and of course, lovers of clarinet enjoy his work. Those accustomed to the piercing wail of the Bb variety may have to adjust a bit to the considerably more subtle instrument pitched in A, which is seductive rather than ear-splitting. De Lucia offers that he owes his affinity for this horn to

Jimmy Giuffre

clarinet
1921 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Giuffre, another indication of his good ears and equally good taste.

If this is any indicator of post-pandemic jazz—with some luck—it bodes well indeed for the music and its listeners. Enjoy.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Venice; E Lucevan Le Stelle; Darien Mode; Tangerine; Siciliano; Core'ngrato; Prelude to Part First; How Am I To Know; Three Rings ARound The Moon; Foolin' Myself; Serenade.

Personnel

Jon De Lucia

saxophone, alto

Tatsuya Sakurai

guitar

Aidan O'Donnell

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Jon De Lucia: clarinet.

Album information

Title: And the Stars Were Shining | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Musaeum Clausum Recordings

https://soundcloud.com/jondelucia? utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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