This year’s summer has been the “hottest summer ever,” and the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that “the summer of 2024 is considered extreme weather.” Even without such announcements, we all know we face a climate we have never experienced. Here are three albums I put on the player when the long, hot summer finally ended, and I felt a bit relieved.
#265 “End of Summer” Depicted by Scandinavian Pianist
End of Summer / Espen Eriksen Trio
(Rune Grammofon RCD-2216)
A beautiful trio album titled “End of Summer.” Given the title, this work is probably inspired by the end of August to the beginning of September. This year, however, summer still lingers in the air, even in the middle of September, and we are finally feeling the “end of summer” in October. The leader of the trio, Espen Eriksen, is a Norwegian-born pianist. In 2007, he formed a trio and has performed at jazz festivals in Norway, as well as at festivals and clubs throughout Europe, including England, Switzerland and Germany, and also in Southeast Asia. Espen’s playing does not use many notes but reduces the number of notes, allowing subtle lyricism to spread from his concise touch.
His fifth album as the leader, “End of Summer,” was released in 2020. It was produced in a studio after getting all their concerts canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The title track is impressive and evokes the lingering scent of a hot summer. Romantic melodies are played over gentle mallet beats by drummer Andreas Bye. Espen’s piano touch is always calm and gentle, giving the impression that he is a genuinely Nordic pianist. Many of the other pieces such as ＜Where The River Runs,＞ ＜A Long Way from Home,＞ and ＜Reminiscence,＞ also evoke a sense of nostalgia. This is an album in which the trio’s aesthetics are expressed in the sound of the music, which is never heated and played calmly.
#266 Romantic Rendition of Getz’s Signature Piece
Reflections / Stan Getz
(Verve ⇒ Universal Music UCCV-9645)
The works of Stan Getz, who was a white tenor saxophone virtuoso, have been introduced in #67 and #149. Personally, I feel like listening to this album in autumn. Although not many autumnal numbers are played, the album includes ＜Early Autumn,＞ which we could say is Getz’s masterpiece. ＜Early Autumn,＞ written by famous arranger Ralph Burns, is based on a suite called “Summer Sequence” that Getz recorded in 1947 when he was still a member of the Woody Herman Orchestra. The ballad performance of Getz in “Part 4” of the suite was so outstanding that Barnes re-arranged this part for Getz, and it became known as ＜Early Autumn.＞
In this 1963 version, Getz plays the melody romantically, accompanied by soft chorus harmonies. The album features beautiful performances, including one of his signature pieces, ＜Moon over Vermont,＞ and a soft bossa nova version of ＜Charade.＞ It has an easy-listening feel throughout, and although it was not highly regarded jazz-wise among Getz’s works, it sounds very pleasant to listen to today. The sound of his tenor saxophone has a solid core. It will be up to audiophiles to see how they can reproduce Goetz’s thick tone, which seems cool but has a definite presence.
#267 Mel Torme Sings Features of New York
Sunday in New York / Mel Torme
(Atlantic Warner Music WPCR-27195)
Mel Torme was recognized as a singer of the highest caliber, exuding a stylish and jazzy charm. The album, titled “Sunday in New York,” is, as the title suggests, a collection of 13 songs, all of which are associated with New York City. Apart from the famous ＜Autumn In New York,＞ no other songs explicitly relate to autumn. However, looking at the beautiful album cover makes me feel like taking the disc out and listen to it irresistibly at this time of the year.
Although the pieces that Vernon Duke wrote are not flamboyant, many of them have deep flavor. The smart atmosphere of ＜Autumn in New York＞ is another example of a world unique to Vernon. The lyrics of ＜Autumn In New York,＞ meaning “Back in New York after a vacation in the country, I look down on Central Park from my hotel’s 27th-floor window, thinking of my new love … ” evoke a hint of romance. Soft string harmonies further enhance Mel Torme’s expression. Other highlights include the swingy ＜Lullaby Of Birdland＞ and the melancholic ＜Harlem Nocturne (Nocturne For The Blues).＞ He performed with various musicians, including swinging big bands and jazzy combos. Recorded in 1963 when Mel Torme was 38 years old, this album is a masterpiece of Mel Torme at the peak of his career.
About the Author
Masamichi Okazaki
Surrounded by various kinds of music from his childhood, Masamichi Okazaki joined Waseda University Modern Jazz Club. He started contributing articles to music magazines when he was a student. He covers wide range of music not only trad, modern and contemporary jazz, but also from pops to classics. He writes liner notes for CDs and LPs, and is a regular contributor to “JAZZ JAPAN,” “STEREO,” and others. He joined a big band, “Shiny Stockings,” as a saxophone player. He is a director of The Music Pen Club Japan (MPCJ).
