Borrowed Time (ESC Records)
Steve Khan
Released June 5, 2007
Grammy Nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album 2008
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kj6xJ45A-XQZHSJtnnXyxO8SpnPukIXHs
Spotify:
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About:
On Tuesday, January 9th, 2007, Steve returned to Avatar Studios, and Studio ‘A’ to record the final 5 tracks for his forthcoming CD which titled, “BORROWED TIME”(Tiempo Prestado) and will, once again after many years, feature new cover artwork by the late Jean-Michel Folon.
The album includes two unreleased tracks from “THE GREEN FIELD” sessions of ’05. As a continuation of the trio explorations with both John Patitucci (Ac. Bass) and Jack DeJohnette(Drums), which began with “GOT MY MENTAL” in ’96, the new recording marks a culmination of this period. Yes, there were some quartet tunes which included the special presence of long-time colleague and friend, percussionist Manolo Badrena. For this group of players, a long, long day’s work, concluded by recording versions of “Mr. and Mrs. People”(Ornette Coleman), and a rather obscure ballad, composed by Steve’s father, titled, “You’re My Girl”(Sammy Cahn-Jule Styne).
In a vein, which seeks to create a blend between Jazz and Latin music, earlier in the evening, the trio was augmented by both Ralph Irizarry (Timbal) and Roberto Quintero(Conga & Perc.), for unique interpretations of “I Mean You”(Thelonious Monk-Coleman Hawkins), and “Hymn Song”(McCoy Tyner). However, the date began with Steve’s composition “El Faquir” which serves as another multi-cultural musical adventure, bringing together all the aforementioned players, plus spectacular performances from Bob Mintzer(Bass Clarinet), and Indian tabla master, Badal Roy, who was kind enough to bring along his wife, Geeta Roy to add the drone of the tamboura.
It’s a bit hard to describe if and how all these elements worked together, but, be assured that, for all those involved, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
Prior to the January session, Steve was in Avatar ‘C’ on Monday, November 27th, 2006 to record two tracks, which were intended to realize Steve’s studies of the harmonies of Clare Fischer in a most humble and respectful way. To accomplish this, Steve was joined by two very dear friends, Randy Brecker(Flügelhorn), and Rob Mounsey(Keys), who was entrusted with those very special harmonies. The spectacularly swingin’ rhythm section was anchored by: Rubén Rodríguez (Baby Bass & Elec. Bass); Marc Quiñones (Timbal & Perc.), and Bobby Allende(Conga & Perc.). These three great, great players have served to very proudly represent the best of New York/Puerto Rican Salsa for two decades now. During that time, while playing together in various contexts, they became Steve’s “professors” as well. And so, on that November day, this group of players recorded Steve’s beautiful bolero titled “Face Value” and, a very unique interpretation of “Have You Met Miss Jones?”(Rodgers-Hart). The latter is dedicated to Clare Fischer and McCoy Tyner, who both inspired Steve’s arrangement.
The final track also features this great rhythm section, minus Rob and Bobby, and reunites Steve with vocalist Gabriela Anders with whom he had recorded “No Te Preocupes Nena” for the Brian Wilson Tribute CD. It is a beautiful arrangement of the obscure Alec Wilder standard “Moon and Sand” which now becomes “Luna y Arena” thanks to Rafael Greco’s Spanish interpretation of the exceptionally poetic and sad lyrics in English.
Track Listing:
1. I Mean You (Coleman Hawkins / Thelonious Monk) 8:02
2. Mr. and Mrs. People (Ornette Coleman) 7:45
3. Face Value (Steve Khan) 10:10
4. El Faquir (Steve Khan) 13:39
5. You’re My Girl 7:01
6. Blues for Ball (McCoy Tyner) 7:06
7. Have You Met Miss Jones? (Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers) 8:11
8. Luna y Arena (William Engvick / Rafael Greco / Morty Palitz) 6:01
9. Hymn Song (McCoy Tyner) 7:24
Personnel:
Steve Khan: guitar (1-2, 4-6, 9), ESP Strat and Martin MC-28 steel string guitars (3); Yamaha APX-10N nylon string guitar (7, 8)
John Patitucci: bass (1, 2, 4-6, 9)
Jack DeJohnette: drums (1, 2, 4-6, 9)
Manolo Badrena: percussion and voice (2, 4-6)
Ralph Irizarry: timbal (1, 4, 9)
Roberto Quintero: conga and percussion (1, 9), guiro and maracas (4)
Randy Brecker: flugelhorn (3, 7, 8)
Rob Mounsey: keyboards (3, 7)
Ruben Rodriguez: baby bass (3, 8), five-string electric bass (7)
Marc Quiñones: timbal, guiro and maracas (3), timbal, maracas and guiro (7), timbal conga, bongo, guiro and maracas (8), conga and percussion (9)
Bobby Allende: conga and bongo (3), conga and maracas (7);
Bob Mintzer: bass clarinet (4)
Badal Roy: tabla (4)
Geeta Roy: tamboura (4)
Gabriela Anders: vocal (8)
Rafael Greco: Spanish lyrics (8)
Recorded on November 27, 2006, and January 9, 2007 at Avatar Studios, New York City
Produced By Steve Khan for perro azul Productions
Mixed at Avatar Studios
Executive Producer: Ulrich Vormehr
Cover Art: “Le Theatre du temps” by Jean-Michel Folon
Review:
A bona fide fusion guitar hero from
the ’70s, Steve Khan has more recently re-invented himself as a practitioner of
fluent, warm-toned, bop-informed single-note lines and deft fingerstyle chordal
work. He hinted at a new Latin influence on last year’s The Green Field, which
also featured drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist John Patitucci and percussionist
Manolo Badrena (a member of Khan’s under-recognized and cutting edge Eyewitness
band from the ’80s).
That same stellar rhythm section is back for
this superb outing, which pushes further into Afro-Cuban territory with a hip
6/8 guaguanco version of Monk’s “I Mean You,” a rumba rendition of “Have You
Met Miss Jones,” his soulful bolero “Face Value,” which features bright,
lyrical flugelhorn playing by longstanding colleague Randy Brecker, and a
cha-cha version of McCoy Tyner’s “Hymn Song.” Khan also investigates some
intriguingly “out” realms, as on a faithful read of the obscure Ornette Coleman
tune from 1960, “Mr. and Mrs. People,” and on his expansive “El Faquir,” a
world-music amalgam which blends the colors of Badal Roy’s tablas and Geeta
Roy’s tamboura with Ralph Irizarry’s timbales and Roberto Quintero’s guiro and
maracas, along with Bob Mintzer’s bass clarinet.
Elsewhere, the guitarist turns in a beautiful
rendition of the ballad “You’re My Girl,” written by his famous father Sammy
Cahn and songwriting partner Jule Styne. And the core quartet indulges in some
heightened, no-holds-barred swinging on Tyner’s “Blues For Ball.”
Bill Milkowski (JazzTimes)
