By Bill Milkowski | Published May 2022
When a bass player’s album comes out accompanied by kudos from bass legends like Rufus Reid, who called it “a tour de force that has raised the bar to a higher level for the 21st century double bass community,” and Ron Carter, who wrote the liner notes, attention must be paid. Wind, a reliably swinging German-born bassist who emigrated to New York 25 years ago, has a lengthy track record including work with pianist Bill Mays, drummer Matt Wilson, pianist-vocalist Dena DeRose and singer Janis Siegel. This brilliant bass manifesto finds him in the company of fellow double bassists Gregg August, Jordan Frazier and Sam Suggs. Drummers Matt Wilson and Lenny White and keyboardist Gary Versace accompany the core four on three tracks.
From an exquisite four-bass take on J.S. Bach’s “Air On A G-String” to Wind’s wicked hoedown “(Give Me Some) G-String,” which morphs into a funky B-3 throwdown, to an invigorating rendition of Weather Report’s “Birdland” and a tender reading of Pat Metheny’s poignant “Tell Her You Saw Me” with Versace on accordion, this is a low-end triumph.
A beautifully arranged “Beatles Medley” includes snippets from “The Long And Winding Road,” “Here, There And Everywhere,” “She’s Leaving Home” and “Lady Madonna.” And there’s a reverent reading of Charlie Haden’s sublime “Silence,” with Wilson taking a remarkably melodic approach to the kit. Artfully done yet entirely accessible.
Air: Air; (Give Me Some) G-String; Beatles Medley; Silence; I’d Rather Eat; Tell Her You Saw Me; Iceland Romance; Air (Trio Version). (54:21)
Personnel: Martin Wind, Gregg August, Jordan Frazier, Sam Suggs, bass; Matt Wilson, drums, percussion; Lenny White, drums (2, 4); Gary Versace, piano, organ, accordion.
Ordering Info: laika-records.com
