Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Schapiro 17: Human Qualities

Schapiro 17: Human Qualities

By Jack Bowers
March 14, 2021
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Following its splendid premiere recording, an exploration of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis' unrivaled album Kind Of Blue (Capitol Records, 1959), composer/arranger

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Schapiro's 17-member ensemble broadens its horizons on Human Qualities, pairing seven of the maestro's astute and adventurous charts with the Roberta Flack best-seller, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." This time around, Schapiro proves that he need rely on nothing more than his own considerable experience as a jazz artist to create an album that expresses his point of view and accomplishes its purpose.

When that posture involves straight-ahead swinging it is very good indeed; and even when it doesn't, it is seldom less than engaging. The emphatic Basie spirit is alive and well on the sunny opener, "Count Me In," with pianist

Roberta Piket

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Roberta Piket sitting in for the Count, and guitarist

Sebastian Noelle

guitar
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Sebastian Noelle for

Freddie Green

guitar, acoustic
1911 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Green, on an irrepressible groover that calls to mind Basie's early era, one that produced such classic riffs as "One O'Clock Jump" and "Lester Leaps In." Stalwart solos courtesy of Piket, tenor

Rob Middleton

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Middleton (channeling his inner

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young) and trombonist

Deborah Weisz

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Deborah Weisz. "Tango," which follows, is a laid-back version of the fiery Latin dance showcasing

Matt Hong

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Hong's supple baritone. The lower end of Piket's keyboard is the launching pad for "Hmmm," a rhythmic powerhouse whose enticing melody and lively shout-outs by brass and reeds lead to muscular solos by trumpeter

Andy Gravish

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Gravish and tenor

Paul Carlon

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Carlon, some brisk four-bar exchanges and more of Piket's barrelhouse licks.

Schapiro's low-key arrangement of the album's lone ballad, "The First Time," whose amiable solos are delivered by Piket and trumpeter

Eddie Allen

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Allen, precedes the contrapuntal "Human Qualities," wherein Piket's piano plays hide-and-seek with brass and reeds before alto saxophonist

Rob Wilkerson

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Wilkerson and trombonist

Nick Grinder

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Grinder take their turns, engirding the ensemble and drummer

Jon Wikan

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Wikan as the tempo undergoes subtle changes, and Piket resurfaces to draw some shapely lines in the sand, while Wilkerson and Grinder trade fours before brass and reeds wrap the package. The dirge-like "Hallelujah," which follows, opens well enough on the wings of Carlon's ardent tenor but overstays its welcome long before the 11:39 playing time has run its course. Happily, the group vitality returns on "A Bounce in Her Step," whose cool-bop cadences call to mind the West Coast scene of well over half a century ago. The carefree melody draws from

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce" and other themes, while the well-aimed solos are delivered by Wilkerson and trombonist

Walter Harris

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Walter Harris. The album ends with a rocking second- line excursion to New Orleans to wager some "House Money" as

Alex Jeun

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Jeun's muted wah-wah trombone enhances the tune's upbeat mood. Wikan and the rhythm section (Piket, Noelle, bassist

Evan Gregor

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Gregor) are sharp and sturdy here, as they are on every number.

If there is such a thing as a sophomore jinx, Schapiro manages to avoid it with ease on Human Qualities, a worthy successor to the Schapiro 17's impressive debut. Let us hope that the third time, whenever that happens, is also a charm.

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Track Listing

Count Me Out; Tango; Hmmm; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; Human Qualities; Hallelujah; A Bounce in Her Step; House Money.

Personnel

Jon Schapiro

composer / conductor

Bryan Davis

piano

Andy Gravish

trumpet

Eddie Allen

trumpet

Noyes Bartholomew

trumpet

Rob Wilkerson

saxophone, alto

Candace DeBartolo

saxophone, alto

Paul Carlon

saxophone, tenor

Rob Middleton

saxophone, tenor

Matt Hong

saxophone, baritone

Alex Jeun

trombone

Deborah Weisz

trombone

Nick Grinder

trombone

Walter Harris

trombone

Roberta Piket

piano

Sebastian Noelle

guitar

Evan Gregor

bass, acoustic

Jon Wikan

drums

Album information

Title: Human Qualities | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Summit Records

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