Young At Heart

【2007年『In the Still of the Night』『シャドウ・オブ・ユア・スマイル』と大ヒットとなったアルバムに続く作品が早くも登場！】

2007年、もっともヒットした新録ハードバップの大人気盤『In the Still of the Night』『シャドウ・オブ・ユア・スマイル』に続くテナーの注目株グラント･スチュワートの待望の作品。『In the Still of the Night』と同一メンバーのカルテット編成で、ジャケットも、ジャジーでロマンチック。おなじみのスタンダードは少なく、隠れた渋い名曲をピック・アップした感じで、より通人好みで、繰り返し味わう度に深みを増す作品となっております。ミディアム・テンポのM1で幕開け、スタンダードのバラードM2と続き、エルモ・ホープのM3、オリジナルのM4で全開。この曲は｢Sweet Georgia Brown｣のコード進行を借りたバップ･ナンバーで、若き日のソニー･ロリンズを思わせる豪快なスチュワート節が炸裂。本作も歌心に溢れた最高の仕上がりです！

rant Stewart's second release for Sharp Nine is a solid effort, featuring the big-toned tenor saxophonist accompanied by some of the regulars for the label, including pianist Tardo Hammer, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Part of the fun is the leader's interest in lesser known tunes, such as the whirlwind performance ofDuke Ellington's "Serenade to Sweden" (debuted in 1939 and played sporadically until the end of the composer's career) and Elmo Hope's twisting bop vehicle "Roll On." He throws a curve by beginning the ballad "Young at Heart" in a majestic though low-key manner, then turning it into a mid-tempo cooker with great backing by Hammer. His tribute to the late alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, "Tribute to Jackie Mac," is a deliberately obvious reworking of the changes to "Sweet Georgia Brown," though he spices it up with references to Miles Davis' "Dig" and the changes to John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." His lush setting of the bossa nova "Modinha" in a heartfelt performance is another example of his maturity as an artist.|