Chuck Deardorf: Transparence (2011)

C. MICHAEL BAILEY,

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: July 8, 2011

Track review of "Dear Prudence"

Bassist Chuck Deardorf follows up his pairing with Dave Peterson on Portal (Origin Records, 2004), with his multidimensional Transparence. Deardorf raises his bass presence to that of the guitar and keyboards on the board, allowing for a turbulent sound mix that resolves itself with time, like incorporating color in paint. This sonic phenomenon is well illustrated in Deardorf's cover of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence."

Deardorf introduces the song with some bass chordal sonics which are allowed to float, while he introduces them tentatively, then with confidence and command. Drummer Mark Ivester lays down a polyrhythm with percussionist Michael Spiro, over which Deardorf and pianist Jovino Santos-Neto slather thickly applied funk. Guitarist Dave Peterson plays his best Shawn Lane against Deardorf's Jonas Hellborg achieving a seasoned sonic cacophony. Precious little Beatles has been successfully translated into the language of jazz. Here, "Dear Prudence" has made the transition well.

Personnel: Chuck Deardorf: acoustic bass, fretted & fretless basses; Jovino Santos- Neto: rhodes piano; Dave Peterson: guitar; Mark Ivester: drums; Michael Spiro: conga; Terry Lauber: acoustic guitar; John Burrow digital collage.

Record Label: Origin Classical