Six decades and some forty albums on, not counting those he appeared on as a sideman or produced, pianist/vocalist/producer Ben Sidran releases an all-instrumental album. Even if you haven’t dug into Sidran’s solo material, you might be familiar with him as a close associate to his mentor, Mose Allison, or as a producer for the Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison, and Diane Ross. The 78-year-old multi-tasker now delivers an all-instrumental jazz album, a first for him, with his 45-year-old son, Leo Sidran, on drums and his collaborator for five decades, Billy Peterson on bass for Swing State.
The catalyst for an all-instrumental album was a visit to the late Tommy LiPuma’s home a few years ago. One can only imagine being a fly on the wall on that day listening to the banter of two well-studied musicologists. Sidran, despite all his accomplishments, expresses slight intimidation when discussing a piano trio foray. Steeped in the tradition of jazz piano of the 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s with the boppers and soul-jazz cats such as Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, and Sonny Clark, Sidran instead looked at an earlier era. Like his mentor, Allison, his bluesy style and witty approach ring true on these songs mostly standards from the 30s. Sidran is inventive but not prone to go on extended improvisations like Allison did and that actually makes for an easier listen, not to, God forbid, suggest that it is “easy listening.”
Yes, it feels good but there Sidran breathes plenty of new life into these familiar standards. His glee comes through and his commitment to the pieces is palpable as he updates the tempos, phrasing, and dynamic accents. The deep bass groove of Peterson has him totally in synch with the pianist and Leo has a touch with the cymbals that are rarely heard. Even though “On the Sunny Side of the Street” is not in the repertoire, the session emits a similar kind of joy one gets when hearing that classic tune. The album begins with “Lullaby of the Leaves,” taken at a slow to mid-tempo, it succeeds in creating the mood for what follows. As for classics, there are two versions of Johnny Mercer’s “Laura;” take your pick. The melodies of swingers “Stompin’ at the Savoy” and “Tuxedo Junction” are at times fragmented over different rhythms, eventually joining together. Sidran’s interpretations of “Ain’t Misbehavin”” and “Over the Rainbow” is inevitably the bluesiest yet uplifting versions you’ve likely heard. His only original is the title track, which true to its name, pushes a great groove behind Peterson’s walking bassline and Sidran’s natural way of hitting deeply bluesy notes and chords, putting the trills in there for exclamation points.
There’s warmth and a loose relaxed vibe to this session that makes it totally captivating. Reach for this one when you need to lighten your mood.
