Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mark Sherman: L. A. Sessions

Mark Sherman: L. A. Sessions

By Larry Taylor
March 13, 2012
View read count

Vibraphonist Mark Sherman has had a longstanding desire to release an album featuring some of his favorite bebop and standard tunes. Now, in L.A. Sessions, this dream comes true, with happy results.

These jazz gems from a half-century ago are played in the tradition, but Sherman and his cohorts lovingly add luster. Chief help comes from

Bill Cunliffe

piano
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Cunliffe, on Hammond B-3 organ (rather than his usual piano), and masterful guitarist

John Chiodini

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">John Chiodini, a favorite on the Southern California club scene.

Sherman has 30 years of recording, composing, and performing with top players and vocalists. Indicating his prowess, he topped Downbeat Magazine's Critics Poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Much influenced by

Milt Jackson

vibraphone
1923 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Milt Jackson, his centerpiece here is an extended version of the great vibraphonist's classic "Bag's Groove." On this, he is laidback and mellow, embracing, midway, solid guitar, organ and drum solos.

Bop's progenitors are well represented.

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie's 1942 standby, "Woody N' You," is a pleasure, as is

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell's "Celia," another game-changing genre piece with its unmistakable and groundbreaking rhythmic repetition and chord tones. The quartet excels on both.

Sherman travels forward in time with

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis' "Serpent's Tooth," featuring

Charles Ruggiero

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Ruggiero's torrential drums, helping to create a swirling vibes-guitar tempest. Along the way,

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice" brings a post bop feel to the proceedings, while Sherman's original, "Far Away," with its haunting atmosphere, brings to mind

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" from the earlier era.

If asked what bop was like, this CD could be used as an aural illustration. Not as authentic as listening to a pioneer like

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker, perhaps, but these enthusiastic recreations do prevail.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Woody N' You; Quasimodo; It Could Happen To You; Celia; Far Away; Whisper Not; Moment's Notice; Bag's Groove; Serpent's Tooth; Bonus Tracks: Quasimodo; Woody N' You; Celia.

Personnel

Mark Sherman

vibraphone

Mark Sherman: vibes; Bill Cunliffe: Hammond B3 organ; John Chiodini: guitar; Charles Ruggiero: drums.

Album information

Title: L. A. Sessions | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Miles High Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Tribulation
< Previous

Trio Libero
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.