"DUOS EAST WEST"

George Haslam, Vladimir Solyanik, Ruben Ferrero. SLAMCD 309 Bar code 5 0288386 030928

TRACKS:

Haslam bari sax (tgto on 3), Vladimir Solyanik piano. Recorded at Ukrainian Broadcasting Co. Kiev, Ukraine. 11 June 1997.

1 Bi-bop 6m 15s

2 Waltzes with wolves 4 21

3 The road to Odessa 7 47

 4 After a long day 9 03

5 Barbara Allen 7 30

Haslam bari sax, Ruben Ferrero piano. 6, 7, 8 recorded at Moebia Studio, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 30 Aug 1997. 9&10 recorded at Aguaribay Studio Buenos Aires, Argentina. 30 Aug 1997.

6 Adios Nonina 3m 24s

7 Rio de la Plata 6 01

8 Please don’t ask 6 45

9 Which brother? 4 45

10 Santa Rosa 4 52

Jazz Journal From the opening cadenza on track one Haslam is in control. Both sets are committed to a creative course and Haslam is in relaxed form on both. On the Kiev set we have his tarogato cutting a swathe through the opening and conclusion of Odessa. It is his authoritative baritone work on the languid Long Day and in his Aylerish treatment of Barbara Allen that he makes his biggest impression. In Buenos Aires his throbbing vibrato adds emotional depth to Rio De La Plata, he is excitingly inventive on Please Don't Ask and he really attacks Which Brother. Solyanik has an individual style; his timing is a tad vertical but his creative process is never in doubt. He has an especially good solo on Odessa but it is his give and take with Haslam on Long Day and Barbara Allen that pleases most. Ferrero plays with a heavy Stan Traceyish authority. He also dovetails effectively with Haslam on Rio De La Plata; his busy contrapuntal contribution to Please Don't Ask is just right and he has a brief, quirky solo on Santa Rose. It might be a long way to go to make a recording but the journey would seem to be justified. Barry McRae