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Shifting Sands
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Personnel:
Bob
DeVos – Guitar; Eric Alexander – Tenor sax (tracks 2, 5,
9) ; Dan Kostelnik – Hammond B-3 organ ;Steve Johns –
Drums ;Gary Fritz – Percussion (tracks 1, 9)
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Tracks:Lost And Found, Three/Four Miss C , Mojave , Shifting Sands, Track
and Field, Step into Spring, But Beautiful, A Different Dozen,
Willow Weep For Me
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Bob
DeVos
Shifting Sands
by
Rick Holland
Bob DeVos has released a gem on the
Savant Label entitled Shifting Sands. DeVos, who is a very modernistic and
forward Jazz guitarist, demonstrates his expertise with the B-3 organ trio
in a swinging and modern take on this genre.
Unlike so many who pattern their B-3 music after the Jimmy Smith model,
this group slants it’s attention more to the Larry Young influenced B-3
groups. (I’m not suggesting that emulating Jimmy Smith isn’t a
noteworthy musical goal!) This trio however captures the post-Trane ideal
and applies these musical values. The result is a group entrenched in a
swinging concept that applies the lessons of modern harmony.
I loved DeVos
concept of sound on this recording. It captured me from the very first
track, entitled Lost and Found. I’ve listened to a few B-3 submissions
in the last year, and I admit, I had a preconceived notion on what I was
about to hear from Shifting Sands. I was pleasantly surprised by the
musical sophistication this disc offered me as a listener. DeVos plays
with beautiful musical phrasing. He and his colleagues are fully formed
improvisers who can translate their musical goals. I must also admit,
I’m a person who loves a modern take on things, and this group does just
that.
By the second track, entitled Three/Four Miss C, (a minor blues in 3/4),
DeVos and Eric Alexander play beautiful harmonically conceived
improvisations. The track has a cool quality, built and entrenched in an
East Coast sense of swing. Check out DeVos and Alexander’s use of
intervallic playing and their emphasis on nice upper structures.
The title track Shifting Sands is also in 3/4 meter. This track is built
over a rich harmonic canvas. Organist Dan Kostelnik lays a nice harmonic
cushion for DeVos to blow over, then comes back and plays a spacious
modern solo on B-3. Very hip!!
Not many organ trios play Jobim with the lightness and thoughtfulness as
this group. Again, DeVos delivers a beautiful sound concept on this.
Supported very nicely by drummer Steve Johns and Kostelnik, this is a very
nice interpretation on rarely played Jobim original.
Step into Spring is another tune that seems to embrace the album’s
mission statement. I must admit I dug the ‘feel’ of the group, but
this tune also embraces Coltrane harmony. The tertian harmony is heard
when DeVos moves from the different key centers on this tune. Bob plays
comfortably through these harmonies, and admittedly, very gracefully, I
did not even notice this until it was brought to my attention. Tertian
harmony is such a nice modulation point in composition, and again many
modernists embrace this sound.
I finally want to bring everyone’s attention to another cut on this
disc, entitled But Beautiful. A favorite standard of mine personally,
DeVos plays a harmonization upfront (Solo-guitar) that is simply
beautiful. He then champions the melody in a Wes Montgomery style that Wes
surely would have dug!!
There are no weak cuts on this disc. The music is played thoughtfully and
musically throughout. This is a wonderful and extremely tasteful disc that
is played by sensitive and thoughtful musicians. I highly recommend this
disc, I’m sure you’ll enjoy DeVos and company’s musical
presentation. Thumbs way up Bob!! Congrads and thank-you for your musical
take on this great genre!!
For more information about the music of Bob DeVos, please visit:
www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com
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