Azica Records, Inc.
Product Review...
THE CLEVELAND PLAIN
DEALER
February
1996
Chip Stephens Bootcamp
Azica
Jazz AJD-72202
Azica Jazz
Pianist
Chip Stephens belongs in the top
echelon of area musicians. A
veteran of the Woody Herman and
Maynard Ferguson bands, Stephens
performs here with bassist Jeff
Halsey, drummer Mark Gonder, and
on some tracks, guitarist Bob
Fraser. Chip Stephens also
contributed six original
compositions, most really
substantive, not just
springboards for improvisation.
The elegy "Song for the
Chocolate Grandson" and
"Lover's Raindanse," a
waltz, demonstrated his lyrical
gift. His "Only You
Know" and "High Octane
No Caffeine," as well as
Fraser's "Pillars of
Strength" and "High
Hopes" show both men's
ability to write rhythmically
infectious and harmonically
complex and sophisticated pieces.Stephens
draws his piano style from a
number of sources, ncluding Bill
Evans and Chick Corea. He has
excellent technique, a pretty
tone and swings easily. Fraser, a
world class guitarist who's
chosen to remain in Cleveland,
sounds very much at home, playing
lucidly and inventively. He and
Chip Stephens have many of the
same musical values.
Among
the best jazz albums cut by a
local label.
-
Harvey Pekar
Return To Bootcamp
|