Has anyone here investigated the music of this rather obscure vibist/arranger/composer? Because of several Creed Taylor-produced Verve sessions, he's remembered by jazz people as a pop sellout almost exclusively. And indeed, it's in that capacity that I've enjoyed his music for some time. Two of his groovy Verve albums, Soft Samba and The In Sound, were reissued on CD in Japan and have been available at Dusty Groove. They're wonderful little small-group pop confections, very gentle and sensitive music. Fans of the early A&M sound might very well enjoy them.
But in addition to those pleasant projects, Doug Payne ( http://www.dougpayne.com/ ) and Dusty Groove have made me aware of McFarland's capacity for expressing deep emotion in a more "serious" vein. Allow me to recommend two albums, both released by impulse! records in 1966:
Zoot Sims: Waiting Game - big ol' "sax with strings" album arranged by McFarland and featuring Zoot on tenor sax. What continues to blow me away on this album (aside from the shimmering, fragile beauty of the whole record) is a beautiful version of McFarland's song "One I Could Have Loved." Fans of Wes Montgomery will remember this tune as "Theme From 13" from the Verve album Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo. On that album, Oliver Nelson arranged it in a very eerie way and subtitled it "Death March"; on the Sims album, the same tune is arranged as a swinging waltz, featuring Zoot in duet with the British jazz harpist David Snell.
Steve Kuhn: The October Suite - I've been spending a lot of time listening to this one lately. It features Kuhn (piano) with Ron Carter (bass) and a very young Marty Morrell (drums) in the acoustic trio format, augmented by a couple of "classical" groups--string quartet on side one, woodwinds on side two. McFarland's involvement was as composer and arranger of all six tracks. I have to say, this is among the most expressive, eloquent, communicative albums I've bought in quite a while. As the title might lead one to expect, the feeling of the compositions is in an autumnal bag, with McFarland again bringing great depth and a surprisingly broad palette of colors to the table.
Both of these albums are, incidentally, perfect music for the fall and winter seasons... and they really deserve to eclipse Gary's reputation as a purveyor of lightweight bossa pop. Any jazz fan oughta pick up both of these Japanese CD's wherever they can find them.
- William
But in addition to those pleasant projects, Doug Payne ( http://www.dougpayne.com/ ) and Dusty Groove have made me aware of McFarland's capacity for expressing deep emotion in a more "serious" vein. Allow me to recommend two albums, both released by impulse! records in 1966:
Zoot Sims: Waiting Game - big ol' "sax with strings" album arranged by McFarland and featuring Zoot on tenor sax. What continues to blow me away on this album (aside from the shimmering, fragile beauty of the whole record) is a beautiful version of McFarland's song "One I Could Have Loved." Fans of Wes Montgomery will remember this tune as "Theme From 13" from the Verve album Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo. On that album, Oliver Nelson arranged it in a very eerie way and subtitled it "Death March"; on the Sims album, the same tune is arranged as a swinging waltz, featuring Zoot in duet with the British jazz harpist David Snell.
Steve Kuhn: The October Suite - I've been spending a lot of time listening to this one lately. It features Kuhn (piano) with Ron Carter (bass) and a very young Marty Morrell (drums) in the acoustic trio format, augmented by a couple of "classical" groups--string quartet on side one, woodwinds on side two. McFarland's involvement was as composer and arranger of all six tracks. I have to say, this is among the most expressive, eloquent, communicative albums I've bought in quite a while. As the title might lead one to expect, the feeling of the compositions is in an autumnal bag, with McFarland again bringing great depth and a surprisingly broad palette of colors to the table.
Both of these albums are, incidentally, perfect music for the fall and winter seasons... and they really deserve to eclipse Gary's reputation as a purveyor of lightweight bossa pop. Any jazz fan oughta pick up both of these Japanese CD's wherever they can find them.
- William