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Steve Kaldestad: Live at Frankie's Jazz Club

By Edward Blanco
May 4, 2022
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Steve Kaldestad: Live at Frankie's Jazz Club

A Port Moody, British Columbia-based tenor saxophonist and educator at Capilano University, Steve Kaldestad is one of the most in-demand musicians in the Canadian jazz scene and Live at Frankie's Jazz Club is his fourth album on the Cellar Live label. Like most musicians affected by the pandemic, working during these trying times has been limited and cherished when possible. Inspired by the compliments and praise received after a previous performance at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, BC, the saxophonist jumped at the opportunity to document, as he states, "The urgency and gratitude emanating from the quartet."

For this live recording, Kaldestad teams up with a cast of well-seasoned veterans which include Vancouver native and staple of the Canadian jazz setting, pianist

Chris Gestrin

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Gestrin along with classically-trained bassist

Conrad Good

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Conrad Good and rounding out the quartet,

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds staple and much sought-after drummer

Jesse Cahill

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jesse Cahill.

One peek at the tunes on the album is more than enough to assure that the music one is about to hear is going to be a blast of straight-ahead jazz with the eleven-minute opener,

Harold Mabern

piano
1936 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Mabern standard "A Few Miles from Memphis," affirming that. Delivering delicious solos from the leader and members of the group,

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver's "Barbara" is another one of many swinging moments. Ditto for the following Kaldestad original "Equestrian Interlude."

While presenting well-known familiar standards in new light is always a challenge, Kaldestad and the band prove worthy here with fresh treatments of

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie's well-travelled "Con Alma and the

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron immortal "If You Could See Me Now," a beautiful ballad where the leader plays to the heart.

Closing the session on the original "Garden Hand Blues," and the oft-recorded

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton standard "Bolivia," Live at Frankie's Jazz Club is a stellar recording from Steve Kaldestad and group. This performance is reminiscent of, and recalls, the kind of incredible music often heard at the old Cory Weeds' Cellar Jazz Club in Kitsilano, Vancouver. Though now closed for good, the tradition established there seems to be alive and well on the stage at Frankie's.

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Track Listing

A Few Miles from Memphis; Barbara; Equestrian Interlude; Con Alma; If You Could See Me Now; Invitation; Garden Hand Blues; Bolivia.

Personnel

Steve Kaldestad

saxophone, tenor

Chris Gestrin

piano

Conrad Good

bass

Jesse Cahill

drums

Album information

Title: Live at Frankie's Jazz Club | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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