Strazzeri, Frank - Strazzatonic 2 x CDs
SKU
15-FSRCD 886.2
Pianist / composer Frank Strazzeri was a journeyman jazz musician. This is three rather scarce albums [Taurus, Frames, After The Rain] from the early – mid 70s, which have Frank on Fender Rhodes and Moog on the third album, are nice examples of the wide reach of electric jazz by 1973-1975!
“Frank Strazzeri was also a foundation of the LA scene, subsidizing his jazz life with stints with Elvis Presley (go figure!!!) Maynard Ferguson and Les Brown along with a thriving studio life. Here, he plays the Fender Rhodes piano on three wonderful mid 70s albums.
From 1973, Taurus has Strazzeri calls up LA buds Conte Candoli/tp, Frank Rosolino/tb, Don Menza/ts-fl, Gene Cherico/ and Dick Berk, and the team is beautifully exotic on “Calcutta” and swinging from the chandeliers on the title track. Two years later, only a couple changes take place with Gary Barone/p, Steve Schaeffer/dr and a pair of percussionists deliver what was then called a “hip” session with electric piano, wind chimes, and chord vamps showing the styles of the time, but not sounding dated at all on “Ballad of the Matador” and “Evening In Madrid.”
From the same year, After the Rain has Strazzeri adding moog and string synthesizer along with crisp toned Bobby Shew, Sam most/ts-fl, Harvey Newmark/b, Steve Strazzeri/dr and Don Alias/perc. Most is gorgeous with his flute on “After the Rain” while Alias adds Latin pizzazz on “Blue Dawn” and the white knuckler “Philadelphia.” Shew is brilliant on “Blue Dawn” as Newmark and the rhythm team form a rivulet of groove. These songs have a vibrancy and excitement that is missing today; these artists were creating, not re-creating, and swinging, not navel gazing. Can it happen again? That’s why God invented prayer!"-George W. Harris
- LabelFresh Sounds
- UPC8427328608862