Mark Whitfield [7th Ave Stroll]
A lovely Jazz Guitar disc, Mark Whitfield works with two separate groups on this recording, one with some veteran musicians, and the other with a much younger group, but the whole thing works so well it's seamless, as a generality, the younger group play the more hip upbeat numbers, and the older guys play the more thoughtful slower stuff, i prefer the older group, wisdom wins the day.
This album has the theme of New York running through it, two thirds of the tracks were composed by Whitfield, on this listen my favourite tracks are 7 and 9, Sunday In New York [a Peter Nero tune], has a great mesmerising groove by the Bassist Dave Holland, and Al Foster adds great cymbal work, Whitfield freely uses this base to improvise over, Sunset At Waterside is even better, what a lovely laid back tune by Whitfield, and Foster's drumwork is so superb and inventive [extra mention should be made of his brushwork on other parts of the album], Tommy Flanagan's short piano solo is also laid back, he reminds me of Cedar Walton, the reprise of the tune by Whitfield is a joy.
I bought this disc for a bargain £2 in a second-hand shop in London, but i would gladly have paid full price, you can hear samples from each track on the AllMusic website.
