Center\Cuts is a collection of bop and hard bop tunes recorded live at the Detroit Jazz Center World Stage in 1981. Marked by easy, infectious melodies and grooves, and steady swinging basslines, this disc features some nice solos and exchanges between musicians. Especially of note is track #3, which features a twanging and swift-fingered bass solo, and upbeat, snappy drums. Arrangements are straight-forward and simply structured. The true essence of jazz improvisation is displayed here. A good listen.
The Bob Szajner Triad II & III center\\\cuts
Label: RMS007 Records, 2008 (1980) Catalogue No: CD07TA8106 Format: CD with 6-Page Booklet in slim jewel box
Audio Clips / Musical Downloads:
Tracks:
Isolation 8:35
Nice "N" Elzy 7:02
Waltz for Laura 7:26
Shadows 9:34
Hook Line and Sinclair 6:22
Class Conscious 7:35
Jade Setting 7:22
The Next Time 6:58
Prayer Meetin' 5:38
Unreal McCoy 7:19
All music by Bob Szajner
Performed by:
Bob Szajner - piano Ed Pickens - bass Frank Isola - drums (tracks 1-5) Mike Gutierrez - drums (tracks 6-10)
Recorded:
April 1981 at the Detroit Jazz Center, Detroit, MI
THUMBNAIL BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH BOB SZAJNER
Everyone has a story to tell, here is mine, hopefully interesting to the reader.
Born on September 12, 1938, I grew up listening to many talented relatives playing various instruments. My mother taught me the basics of music and how to play piano at a very early age. In 1948, (or there about), I won first prize in the "Frankie Carle Piano Contest". This entitled me to one weeks performance at the Fox Theater in Detroit. I was one of the opening acts on the bill (a vaudeville theme) for Billie Holiday along with a comedian and an acrobatic duo. I enjoyed listening to the style of music and accompaniment for her. This was the beginning of my quest for my own personal style.
Ten years later (or there about), for at least ten years, I started writing and performing "Modern Jazz" later known as Bebop and then later as Hard Bop. I performed with many musicians from the "Detroit Jazz" scene at various sessions, venues and jazz clubs throughout the Detroit Metropolitan Area. I worked with Donald Byrd, Charlie McPherson, Lonnie Hillyer, Roy Brooks, Yuseff Lateef, Pepper Adams, Frank Isola and others as a backup piano player.
For the next ten years, I wrote some tunes, but really became quite dismayed and disappointed with the business of music, especially, the lack of audience. Then on October 8, 1978 (my 18th wedding anniversary), I recorded an album with my old school friend, drummer Roy Brooks and his bassman Ray McKinney. "The Bob Szajner Triad" was a three record set of my original compositions. A twenty-seven tune recording session performing original music never played before or rehearsed, with no second takes. This was the "Triad" concept. This lead to performances at "The Cafe Detroit", "The Detroit Jazz Center" and the "Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival 1981". "The lost tapes" CD07TA8104 and "center\\\cuts" CD07TA8106, on RMS007 Records were recorded in 1981 at "The Detroit Jazz Center".
They are released twenty-six years later as my historical tribute to my former musician friends.
About:
Take a group of original compositions written by an unknown jazz piano player (Bob Szajner), add the fact that none of the musicians performed the material before, add a peculiar “hardened hammer” piano, a bassman with creative vengeance (Ed Pickens), drummers unfamiliar with original material but both brave and extremely accomplished jazz artists (Frank Isola on cuts #1 through #5 and Mike Gutierrez on cuts #6 through #10), and then mix with a mature hard bop composer /pianist (Szajner again) with at least 10 to 12 people in an audience that seems too reserved for their owngood AND you have performances on the cutting edge of improvisation tailored for the discriminating enthusiast of the ‘50s-‘60s “classic genre of modern jazz!!!
Review:
'Center\Cuts' is a collection of bop and hard bop tunes recorded live at the Detroit Jazz Center World Stage.
Marked by easy, infectious melodies and grooves, and steady swinging bass lines, this disc features some nice solos and exchanges between musicians. Especially of note is track #3, which features a twanging and swift-fingered bass solo, and upbeat, snappy drums.
Arrangements are straight-forward and simply structured. The true essence of jazz improvisation is displayed here. A good listen.
