Reviews for Feels Like Home
Reviews for Feels Like Home
1) Magazine of the International Society of Bassists, U.S., Fall Issue 2006
Bassist Martin Wind is joined by his longtime colleague, guitarist Ulf Meyer and legendary drummer Alex Riel for his most recent recording. Feels like home was completed just prior to the group’s learning of the death of their friend and hero, double bassist Nils-Henning Oersted Pedersen. The album is dedicated to his memory.
The combination of guitar and double bass is not a new idea (think of Red
Mitchell and herb Ellis, Ron Carter and Jim Hall) but Wind and Meyer have a
musical relationship that is special. On this project they have included the
exceptional percussionist Alex Riel, a longtime associate of bassist Nils
Pedersen. The original compositions (six) and arrangements are superb. The
musicianship of these artists is of the highest caliber. A nicely recorded
and produced album.
The opening track, Gandhi, by Meyer has the guitarist and bassist playing the line in unison and flows into a swinging 2/4 shuffle. Great guitar and bass solos. The Old Country by Nat Adderley falls easy on the ear; a quiet but swinging piece featuring Mr. Meyer. Hoagy Carmichael’s popular The Nearness of You begins with the bassist Wind stating the melody followed by a sweet solo by the guitarist. Drummer Riel displays his tasty brushwork. Bluesette, by harmonica genius Toots Thielemans, features special guest alto saxophonist Benjamin Koppel in an up-tempo rendering of this jazz standard; everyone is cooking with gas!
A slow blues by bassist Wind, Cruise Blues, features the bassist in a
most inventive solo – and so in tune. Another blues by Ulf Meyer,
Locomotive Blues, shuffles on down the track with some stream coming
from Ulf’s guitar and Martin’s bass; drummer Riel sets a tight groove as
Meyer stretches out. Oh yeah, big grins all around. The third blues of this
set, Blues in Klues by the guitarist, again features the swinging sax
work of Mr. Koppel and a “down home” guitar solo (Herb Ellis would say this
is “Greasy”!). A tender ballad by Martin Wind Big Al begins with
beautiful arco work by the bassist and is followed by his clean and mean
pizz solo; this may be the jewel of the recording; lovely.
Meyer’s Samba Rapido closes out the set. Altoist Koppel is highlighted in this spirited up-tempo Latin Swinger. Nice guitar and bass solos too.
A word about the players: Martin and Ulf have been working together for 15 years. Both have been influenced by European jazz giants Philip Catherine and Nils Pedersen (very evident in their playing here). Ulf says of Martin: “he is a heavy swinger, with a powerful punch and attack, in a certain Ray Brown tradition. He is a great soloist with a beautiful, lyrical sense of melodies.” Ulf mentioned that they both have a similar sense of humor – which is apparent in their playing!
Drummer Alex Riel is a treasure. His star career began in the ‘60s with a very young bassist named Nils Henning Oersted Pedersen at the famous Copenhagen jazz club “Montmartre”. Alex also played in an early trio of Bill Evans (with Eddie Gomez) and with such jazz luminaries as Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon and Donald Byrd. He is one of the busiest drummers on the European scene. These three artists have delivered a standout recording and are commended for a most successful project.
- Paul Pearce