Jerry Granelli is a living drum legend, and that word ‘legend’ belongs near his name because of two things: he was behind the kit for classic recordings by Mose Allison and Vince Guaraldi, and because of the roads less traveled he’s taken as a leader. Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison is notable if for nothing else but that it’s probably the first time Granelli has attempted to reconcile both of these major elements of his sixty-odd year career.
You don’t need to hear from Granelli’s mouth that he’s not an overly nostalgic person; his own work that regularly breaks from the past tells you that. His decision to finally make a sort of tribute record to two of his most notable employers comes down mainly to his partners in this project. His current trio has a couple of avant gardists on board from younger generations: Pianist Jamie Saft and bassist Bradley Christopher Jones (AKA Alias, the Brad Jones Quartet, Avant Lounge). Given the times they’ve lived in, the experiences they’ve had and their open-mindedness toward any kind of music old and new, there was no chance that they were going to feel bound to play the songs by long ago piano jazz stars with musty sentiment.
Reflecting perhaps only three brief — but momentous — years spent with Guaraldi and close to forty years working on and off with Allison, five tracks are pulled from Allison’s repertoire to only three from Guaraldi. Guaraldi’s “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” became a hit just as Granelli joined his trio, so he’s especially familiar with this song. But this is not your grand-dad’s “Cast Your Fate To The Wind,” oh no. Jones creates something of a pall by bowing his bass, Granelli is applying his famous brushwork acumen to create a stir and Saft plays out the pretty melody suspended in time. The ‘avant-garde’ in these three lurk all around the sound, but the end product is actually very faithful to the essence of the song.
The original “Star Song” recording was a standout for Granelli’s unique approach to generating a bossa nova beat and he attacks the contemporary version the same way. Saft is hewing close to Guaraldi’s relaxed approach, but Jones’ bass is noticeably lively and together with his high-register solo, sets this version apart. “Christmas Time Is Here” is the lone hat tip to Guaraldi’s celebrated Peanuts oeuvre, but it’s the centerpiece track to the greatest Christmas record ever made. Saft makes subtle modulations to the chord pattern and Jones’ bass feature reaches deep into the soul.
Being that Allison was a jazz musician who was really a blues singer and composer at heart, the Mose lineup of songs provide ample opportunity for the trio to avail themselves of their love for the blues. The sound like they’re having an absolute ball on “Parchman Farm,” Granelli playing loose and Saft borrowing a piano riff from James Brown’s “Sex Machine” that fits in so naturally before he mimics Allison lyric lines. Saft is so clearly on a roll, the rhythm section even sits out in the middle of the song and lets him take care of his blues jones.
A funky, interlocking groove constructed by Granelli and Jones underpin “Baby Please Don’t Go” and all Saft has to do is glide in the pocket. Granelli and Jones holds down the groove air tight for “Your Mind Is on Vacation” while Saft plays with two-fisted abandon.
Saft’s piano takes on the same cadence as Allison’s offbeat vocal delivery for “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy.” “Young Man Blues” was famously covered by The Who on Live at Leeds and like the Who, Granelli’s trio stretches out for this one, Granelli in particular, who plays with all the vitality of a — indeed — young man. The band is having such a great time with the tune they have a hard time quitting it.
There are two originals on the album, drums/bass jams, actually. Straight up blues form the basis for “Mind Prelude 1” and “Mind Prelude 2.” On both takes, Granelli’s brush work is about as good as you’ll ever hear from anybody.
It took a while for Jerry Granelli to look back to two of his most famous former employers in making a record but once he found the perfect partners in Jamie Saft and Bradley Christopher Jones, he knew he could do a tribute the right way. It’s a joy to listen to Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison because there was so much obvious joy that went into recording it.
Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison will drop on June 26, 2020 courtesy of RareNoise Records.
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