Daily Variety:
CD Release Event
(Cat Club, West Hollywood)
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2002.
Royal Crown Revue drummer Daniel Glass demonstrates
he has the chops to be the real deal in jazz circles as a composer,
player and bandleader. His trio is focused on the vibraphone work
of Eldad Tarmu, a promising young vibist who has already recorded
indie discs on his own and appears on Glass' fine debut "Something
Colorful" on the Very Tall label that he co-owns.
Significantly, Glass' gig and disc showcase
a drummer with a keen sense of Afro-Cuban and syncopated rhythms,
a flair for composing ballads in a classic, lyrical style and a
penchant for providing conspicuous support rather than demonstrating
his command of the instrument. Hour-plus show concentrated on the
generally brisk material from "Something Colorful," with
Tarmu employing the four-mallet technique forged by Gary Burton
to lead the way. Especially impressive were the originals "Sparkler"
and concert opener "We Three," along with a rendition
of Johnny Mandel's "Don't Look Back" . . . when they played
in unison it was crisp and inviting with a consistent verve ; band's
modern approach is as far removed from Glass' retro swing act as
possible. PHIL GALLO
Stereophile Magazine (April
'03):
Performance (Four Stars), Sonics
(Four Stars)
The current well-known tribulations of the record industry have
harmed jazz more than most musical genres, because the jazz client
base is small and fragile even in the best of times. Yet as established
record companies cut back their rosters, small independent jazz
labels, to the jeopardy of their owners' personal finances, fight
on. These labels are the true keepers of the flame, and a new one,
Very Tall, has just joined their quixotic ranks.
Over the past month, I have played Very Tall's debut recording,
the Daniel Glass Trio's [Something Colorful], more than any other
record that has come into my house in that time (and [lots] of records
come into my house). It possesses a light-footed, light-hearted,
fresh energy that is infectious. None of these three guys is famous
yet, but they are highly accomplished and they swing their butts
off.The trio is unmistakably a drummer-led ensemble, with Daniel
Glass mixed way down front. He is so crisp and clean and clever,
especially with brushes, that if he didn't sound as if he was having
such a good time, he could be running a drum clinic. Eldad Tarmu
is not one of your soft-spoken, polite vibraphone players. He whips
on his instrument as he careens and cuts and skitters. Bassist Tim
Emmons is a quick, fully articulate third voice.
A commitment to roots is evident in the trio's repertoire, which
features such great, seldom-played classics as "Lotus Blossom"
(Kenny Dorham's, not Billy Strayhorn's), "S.O.S." (Wes
Montgomery) and "Gregory is Here" (Horace Silver). Yet
there is nothing retro about this band. Their spare, unusual instrumentation
and free-spirited impulsiveness create wide-open landscapes. Tarmu
hammers a riff; Glass clatters objections; Emmons sprays guttural
sidebars. Then, suddenly, they come together in common cause---one
lush, complex voice to sing a song like Johnny Mandel's "Don't
Look Back." But the performance that conveys the essence of
this trio is Glass's "Sparkler." It blooms into existence,
a quiet fire that gracefully showers points of light.
The sound quality of this recording puts to shame the work of most
major labels. Its visceral, tactile immediacy delivers an exhilarating
illusion of "in-the-room" reality. The vibes are a challenging
instrument to record, and engineer Steven Rhodes brings them back
alive: the specific collisions of Tarmu's mallets on the bars, then
the vaporous vibrato. There is one anomaly in the sound, which is
the decision of the mixing and mastering engineer, Maurice Gainen,
to spread the vibes across both speakers, probably by panning a
pair of vibraphone mikes hard left and hard right. Glass's drum
kit is also spread out wide. This panorama requires some adjustment
on the part of the listener, a small effort that is richly rewarded
in fun.THOMAS CONRAD
LA Jazz Scene (Nov. '02):
An interesting combination of talented musicians
are in this trio. Drummer Daniel Glass is best known for his association
with the Royal Crown Revue but is a well-rounded player and a student
of drum history. Vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu has in the past displayed
the influence of Bobby Hutcherson although in this combo he sounds
much more original. Bassist Tim Emmons serves as the glue that holds
the group together.
The music ranges from bop to post-bop on
this colorful set which features five originals by Tarmu and/or
Glass and such tunes as Kenny Dorham's "Lotus Blossom,"
Wes Montgomery's "S.O.S." and a joyous rendition of Bud
Powell's "Dance Of The Infidels." The ensembles have a
light sparse sound with each of the musicians operating as equals.
The interplay between the players (when one is soloing, the others
are given stimulating support) is consistently impressive and the
sound of the group is quite attractive.This setting brings out the
best in each of the musicians. This is a CD well worth checking
out and it is available from Very Tall Records, 835 1/4 N. Alfred
St., Los Angeles, CA 90069, http://www.verytallindeed.com.SCOTT
YANOW
Modern
Drummer (Jan. '03)
(Rating - "8" out of a possible
10):
Though best known for his gig with rat pack
swingers Royal Crown Revue, Daniel Glass is a highly skilled musician
who has also recorded with pop stars Bette Midler and Jeffrey Gaines,
noise punk Mike Ness and grizzled jazzbo Vinnie Santoro. On his
leader debut, Glass's trio creates sophisticated west coast swing.
Covering Bud Powell's "Dance of the Infidels," Kenny Dorham's
"Lotus Blossom" and a handful of originals, the trio craft
a detailed panorama full of fire, finesse and articulation. Glass
drums with a solid sense of history throughout, paying respect to
both Philly Joe and Billy Higgins, but tempered by the fusion styles
of the 90s when the mood moves him. Sweet swing from a post rat
pack artisan. KEN MICALLEF
The
All Music Guide (AMG Rating: Three Stars):
The Daniel Glass Trio makes their Very Tall
record label debut with Something Colorful. This ten-track gem features
vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu and bassist Tim Emmons alongside Daniel
Glass the well-known drummer for the Royal Crown Revue playing a
stellar mix of originals and jazz standards written by such jazz
greats as Horace Silver and Bud Powell. This unusual format of vibes,
bass and drums is a pleasure to hear since each player stretches
both individually and collectively without boring their listeners
with overly long improvisations.
One especially relevant song is "We Three" which provides
ample breathing room for the entire trio's colors and textures,
not just those of one player.
Daniel Glass' composition titled "Sparkler"
is a subtle gem that grows on you with each listen. The trio's rendition
of Bud Powell's "Dance of the Infidels" (with Tarmu's
vibes handling the melody) is a rare opportunity to hear the compositional
prowess of pianist Bud Powell outside of the song's original instrumentation.
Overall, this new trio should have no trouble attracting a following
but be sure to follow your taste for traditional jazz rather than
the work of Daniel Glass with the Royal Crown Revue when considering
this purchase. PAULA EDELSTEIN
Soundstage.com
(November, 2002 Issue):
There aren't many jazz-trio configurations
that can still create a new listening experience. However, the Daniel
Glass Trio, a vibes, bass, and drum ensemble, opens up aural vistas
rarely heard by jazz lovers. This makes for a more mellow presentation,
but one that is no less detailed or engaging. Glass leads from the
drummer's chair, and he and his cohorts, bassist Tim Emmons and
vibist Eldad Tarmu, work together so well that they speak with a
single voice, instead of three competing sounds. Musically, the
Daniel Glass Trio has the chops to play inspired music -- and they
have the talent to write good songs, as well as perform music written
by jazz greats such as Bud Powell, Kenny Dorham, and Horace Silver,
among others.
The interplay between these three musicians
is remarkable. They are so well matched that none of them towers
above the others. Listening to them reminded me of Archibald McNeal
Willard's famous Revolutionary War painting, "The Spirit of
76," that shows a drummer, fife player, and flag bearer marching
in lockstep: three individuals with one common goal.
The press release for Something Colorful
stressed that sonic considerations were as paramount as artistic
ones in the creation of Very Tall Music's CDs. It lives up to that
promise; it's a beautiful recording. Glass' drums are the real standouts
here (as might be expected) -- the cymbals are splashy and the sound
of the drumheads has a snappy, explosive energy. The source of the
sound shifts as we follow him in his explorations of his entire
kit. It's easy to hear Tarmu's mallet head strike each individual
bar on his vibes, followed by the reverberant shimmer as the sound
develops in the recording venue's air. The bass might have been
a tad richer-sounding, but both its detail and extension were first-rate.
The sound's only shortcoming is that it's a studio recording, and
it's far too easy to hear the differing recording booths used. I'd
love to hear Very Tall record this group live to two-track -- now
that would be something!
Something Colorful is a debut album
to be proud of, both for the Daniel Glass Trio and Very Tall Music.
The combination of an excellent musical program with superb sound
bodes well for a bright future for both groups. Glass demonstrates
a gift for finding, and exploiting, the best his fellow musicians
have to offer, while still holding fast the reins of leadership
-- a neat trick. I will be interested in hearing what will come
next from both artist and label. As it stands, Something Colorful
is a wonderful recording and a welcome addition to any audiophile
jazz-lover's library. JOHN CROSSETT/ johnc@soundstage.com
Jazz
Connection Magazine (Nov. '02 Issue),
( Rating: Three and 1/2)
Whenever I think of Daniel Glass, I think
of the very talented and exciting drummer for Royal Crown Revue,
the founding fathers of the neo-swing movement. What also comes
to mind is a person who is a very scholarly author, drum historian
and educator. New thoughts about Daniel Glass must now include dynamic
and bold session leader, composer and entrepreneur with the release
of his debut CD, Something Colorful, (Very Tall Records).
This ten-track disc offers some creative
"relaxing jazz." It's not the loud get-in-your-face-type
jazz but rather, jazz that swings gently but freely while encompassing
a variety of textures and colors. Glass pulls this off nicely with
help from members of his trio: Eldad Tarmu, vibraphone and Tim Emmons,
bass. The trio has just come off a very successful tour of Europe
which started in September. Something Colorful is the inaugural
release of the newly-formed Very Tall Records, co-operated by Glass
and David Millman.
The CD offers a nice array of original compositions
by Glass and Tarmu along with selections by Kenny Dorham (Lotus
Blossom), Horace Silver (Gregory), Wes Montgomery (S.O.S.), Bud
Powell (Dance Of The Infidels), Johnny Mandel and Kay Durham (Don't
Look Back). Tarmu offers three solo originals for this project.
The first, We Three, is a swinging piece in which each musician
solos while in "conversations" with the other. The second
original, First Rain, is a pretty ballad melody with a melancholy
twist that's reminiscent of the first rain fall. Tarmu's final solo
composition, The Crippled Waltz, is a jazz waltz-sounding piece
fused with a slight calypso tinge.
Glass demonstrates some tasteful wire brush
work (almost a lost art among many drummers!) on his composition,
Sparkler. Tarmu's vibes resonates throughout the piece like the
flames of a sparkler on the Fourth of July: bright, crisp yet smooth,
textured with a warm and inviting glow. The Glass and Tarmu collaboration,
On The Verge, is a hard-driving tune that hooks the listener into
wanting more. Emmons provided some great bass ideas throughout the
CD, most notably on the Bud Powell tune, Dance Of The Infidels.
Glass is originally from Hawaii, and the
overall sound he gets from his trio is reflective of the music of
vibe legend Arthur Lyman (any influence conscientious or unconsciously?)
who makes beautiful music that's soothing as the cool trade winds
that frequent the tropical paradise. STEPHEN FRATALLONE
