Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Joe Fonda/Carlo Morena/Jeff Hirshfield: What We're Hearing
Joe Fonda/Carlo Morena/Jeff Hirshfield: What We're Hearing
ByFonda's abundant soloing on this record obeys a much more obvious melodic order than most of his material. His bass playing in general integrates itself fluidly and unobtrusively into Morena's relatively linear harmonic approach. Carlo Morena, a loose traditionalist, takes conventional forms and personalizes them with a relaxed, singing tone. Morena's three lyrical compositions tend toward a bittersweet, ambivalent sound. Helped along by Hirshfield, the trio stays rhythmically grounded throughout the full hour of improvisation. Occasionally a funky groove pops its head up on What We're Hearing (eg. the drum solo toward the end of the second track), but in general Hirshfield performs what Miles Davis would term "protecting the beat": delivering unrelenting swing on the upbeat material, coupled with understated brushwork on slower pieces. An apt stylistic comparison might be Paul Motian.
What We're Hearing is easily the most straight-ahead recording in Joe Fonda's oeuvre. This delicate performance offers meticulous attention to detail and a potently melodic feel. After hearing this disc, no one could doubt Fonda's ability to work within the traditionlending credence to his frequent trips "out" in other projects.
Track Listing
My Blues; Mars Bars; When It's Time; Begin; Love You, Too; Persuasions:; You Stepped Out Of A Dream.
Personnel
Joe Fonda
bass, acousticJoe Fonda: bass; Carlo Morena: piano; Jeff Hirshfield: drums.
Album information
Title: What We're Hearing | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: DeWerf
< Previous
Lemme Tell Ya 'Bout Desmond
Comments
About Joe Fonda
Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To