Ken Wiley - Jazz Horn Redux

by Vittorio

The French horn is certainly not among the most used instruments in jazz, but Ken Wiley in these eleven tracks, all standard, shows how it is possible to take rich solos of swing on well arranged arrangements and also enriched by very good sideman. With him is pianist Wally Minko, Trey Henry on double bass and electric bass, and Kendall Kay on drums. To these are added several guests, including Gary Grant to the trumpet and flugelhorn, which provided an important collaboration for the realization of the project. The compositions are enriched with new accents, on Freddie Hubbard's Little Sunflower Minko is on the electric piano and Dan Higgins first takes a solo at David Sanborn on alto sax and then on the flute that closes the song. Bag's Grooveis performed by the quartet with all acoustic instruments, the solo of the leader is convincing and all swinga with ease, even the solos of Minko is Gary Grant are to highlight, the group knows well the tradition of jazz and performs with conviction this composition of famous vibraphonist Milt Jackson. A classic of modal jazz is Miles Davis' All Blues is performed with personal accents, giving you a nice rhythm compared to the original version. Wiley does not forget the bop, there's Scrapple from the Apple by Charlie Parker, and bossa nova is also present with the famous Corcovadoby Antonio Carlos Jobim, here is missing the piano and the solo to the flute and the French horn together with the acoustic guitar by Mike Miller make the atmosphere of the genre in the best way. Other tracks performed with the acoustic formation are John Coltrane's Equinox and Oleo by Sonny Rollins, the final Freeedom Jazz Dance instead is performed with the electric piano and the electric bass and recalls certain atmospheres of the first Weather Report. 
Pleasant and eclectic disc, as used today.