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Roberto Magris: Cannonball Funk 'n Friends / One Night in with Hope . . . Vol. 2

By Jack Bowers
September 30, 2013
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Roberto Magris: Cannonball Funk 'n Friends / One Night in with Hope . . . Vol. 2

Pianist

Roberto Magris

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Roberto Magris, who logs so much time in studios that he should be awarded Frequent Recording points, is back with two more albums, the first by a quintet with alto

Jim Mair

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Mair sitting in for

Cannonball Adderley

saxophone
1928 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Cannonball Adderley and trumpeter

Hermon Mehari

trumpet
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Hermon Mehari for Cannonball's brother, Nat, the second a trio session billed as Vol. 2 in a tribute to the late pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">Elmo Hope but containing no music written by its dedicatee (well, the album's title does read "and More").

In choosing music for the quintet, Magris says he focused on "the groovy side" of Cannonball Adderley's songbook. That entails new arrangements of

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's "Jeannine,"

Frank Rosolino

trombone
1926 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Rosolino's "Blue Daniel,"

Oscar Pettiford

bass
1922 - 1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark,"

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

saxophone, alto
1917 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's "Arriving Soon" and other themes including two by Magris ("Keep Headed in the Right Direction," "Outback Special"),

Walter Booker

bass
b.1933

" data-original-title="" title="">Walter Booker's "Saudade" and Adderley's "Sticks." Magris plays piano most of the way, Hammond B3 organ on "Blue Daniel" and "Outback Special." Rounding out the quintet are bassist

Dominique Sanders

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dominique Sanders and drummer Alonzo "Scooter" Powell whose funky R&B licks served as an inspiration for the album.

The mood is cheeky and aggressive from start to finish, and everyone plays well within that framework. What the album does not have, of course, is either of the Adderley brothers, and so it is missing the deep-rooted ebullience they would bring to any such enterprise. Aside from that, an astute and listenable session.

Magris' trio (

Elisa Pruett

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Elisa Pruett, bass; Albert "Tootie" Heath or

Brian Steever

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Steever, drums) walks a more straight-ahead path on One Night in With Hope, which includes a bonus track ("Possessed Me"), recorded in 2008 with Pruett, tenor saxophonist

Paul Carr

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Carr and drummer

Idris Muhammad

drums
1939 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Muhammad. Magris, on piano all the way, seems more at ease here, playing with enthusiasm and awareness, as do Pruett, Heath (five numbers) and Steever (four). Even the "curious tune in,"

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti's theme from "The Odd Couple," is given a likeable reading. The bonus track is another bright spot, as Carr adds a persuasive voice to the group (even though Magris' piano is a tad over-recorded).

In sum, two more well-designed albums from the indefatigable Mr. Magris who you may rest assured you'll be hearing from again soon.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Cannonball Funk ��n Friends �� Jeannine; Blue Daniel; Sticks; Saudade; Bohemia After Dark; Keep Headed in the Right Direction; Arriving Soon; Outback Special; Audio Notebook. One Night with Hope �� Third World; Young and Foolish; Makanda; Dianna; Mal Waldron��s Dreams; Little Susan; Theme from The Odd Couple; Burbank Turnaround; I Can��t Give You Anything But Love; Possessed Me (bonus track); Audio Notebook.

Personnel

Roberto Magris

piano

Cannonball Funk ��n Friends �� Roberto Magris: piano, Hammond B3; Hermon Mehari: cornet, trumpet; Jim Mair: alto sax; Dominique Sanders: bass; Alonzo ��Scooter�� Powell: drums. One Night in with Hope �� Roberto Magris: piano; Elisa Pruett: bass; Albert ��Tootie�� Heath: drums (1, 5, 7-9); Brian Steever: drums (2-4, 6); Paul Carr: tenor sax (10); Idris Muhammad: drums (10).

Album information

Title: Cannonball Funk 'n Friends | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: JMOOD* RECORDS

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