Kogan, Peter: The Green Album

Drumming master Peter Kogan has been around now for decades. He joined the Cleveland Orchestra in 1969 and in 1972 joined the Pittsburgh Symphony. In the late ‘70s Kogan moved to New York City where he worked as a session musician for six years. This was followed by stints with the Honolulu Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra. It wasn’t until 2013 he released his first album titled Cornucopia followed by Some Monster Wonderthing in 2015. His latest disc is titled The Green Album and features fifteen players, all top notch musicians.

Modern melodic jazz does not get much better than this. The disc covers eleven tracks, including three covers and starts with the superb “MLW Blues Evolution�. Piano and congas begin the piece before the full band lays down a great groove. The rhythm section of Kogan and Jeff Bailey on bass sets the pace as the trumpet, trombone and sax trade solos. With “Slippery Slope�, written in response to the 2016 US election, discordant rhythms and heavy drums make way for an almost frenzied approach with highlight reel trumpet, saxophone, piano, drums and bass. Again, the musicianship is just so good. The jazzy guitar runs should also be mentioned. With the Gillespie penned “Con Alma�, Kogan and Bailey display a fluid synchronicity as some wonderful solos on trumpet and tenor sax, courtesy of Jake Baldwin and Pete Whitman respectively along with Phil Aaron’s thoughtful piano work fill out the piece. The playful cover of Charlie Parker’s “My Little Suede Shoes� is more highlight material. The colourful tenor sax and trumpet add a feeling of pure joy.

The Green Album is without a doubt a masterful work, chock full of great melodies, arrangements and ensemble playing. Absolutely stunning.

Track Listing:
1. MLW Blues Evolution (7:28)
2. Slippery Slope (6:06)
3. Miles Back (6:29)
4. Con Alma (6:48)
5. My Little Suede Shoes (4:24)
6. The Mooche (7:19)
7. Fools Blues (4:46)
8. Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me Babe (4:16)
9. Moose The Mooche (4:57)
10. Honolulu (Green Theme Song) (4:54)
11. El Rancho (8:15)

Added: April 9th 2019
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1328
Language: english

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