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Lajos Dudas Trio: Live at Porgy & Bess

By C. Michael Bailey
February 14, 2013
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Hungarian-German clarinetist Lajos Dudas has quite the r��sum�� in Europe, with about 50 recordings to his credit. He has been around long enough to have had clarinetist

Artie Shaw

clarinet
1910 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Artie Shaw remark on his talent, but do not mistake his longevity with a marriage to the traditional mainstream of jazz; it is anything but. Dudas has adventurous spirit that seeks to probe the same sonic areas as

Jimmy Giuffre

clarinet
1921 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Giuffre's 1960s trio, albeit in a somewhat more behaved fashion. The present live outing, recorded in Vienna, Austria's Porgy & Bess club finds the clarinetist leading an understated guitar-bass trio through a spirited and impressionist collection of original and standard compositions that clearly heated the club like quiet fire.

Dudas' composing is similar to that of the late alto saxophonist

Art Pepper

saxophone, alto
1925 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Pepper, with freely played melodies tacked down with complex heads and interludes. The lengthy opener, "Soft Waves" is characterized by some magic from Dudas' longtime guitarist, Philipp van Ender, with the clarinetist insinuating himself into what sounds like free jazz barely tethered by a recurring theme. The originals "Maydance" and "Back to L.A." bear the same characteristics. Pianist

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud," typically a piano workout (considering its subject, pianist

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell), is given breezy attention, Dudas sliding the theme over itself while van Endert holds down the harmonic fort. "Embraceable You" is the straightest piece in the recital, subtly textured and finely applied. Live at Porgy & Bess employs an intimate band format in an equally intimate and receptive venue. A fine performance.

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Track Listing

Soft Waves; Reni's Ballad; Homage to O.P.; In Walked Bud; Embraceable You; Rumpelstilzchen; Maydance; Back to L.A.; Night and Day.

Personnel

Lajos Dudas

clarinet

Lajos Dudas: clarinet; Philipp van Endert: guitar; Leonard Jones: bass.

Album information

Title: Live at Porgy & Bess | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: JazzSick Records

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