David Morgenroth | Alone with Duke
Published: April 26, 2010
Take music from one of the most influential composers in American history, put it in the hands of one of Montana’s most influential pianists and what do you get? A mighty fine recording, that’s what.
Missoula musician David Morgenroth explores his love of jazz improvisation here on 13 of Duke Ellington’s tunes, recorded on two consecutive days in August of last year. Morgenroth’s liner notes say these jazz pieces were some of the earliest he learned, and his 30-year-familiarity with them, combined with his respect for Ellington, led him to create the album.
This is also his first solo piano recording: Morgenroth felt it would provide him the most flexibility to make a true jazz album, with the emphasis on improvisation. In that, he has succeeded admirably.
Starting off with the laid-back, finger-snappin’ rhythm of “Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don’t Tease Me),” Morgenroth proves his deft connection with the Duke’s light, ornamental style.
“Cotton Tail” sounds just like it should – lots of trotting up and down the keyboard, anchored by a resounding understory of bass notes. “Come Sunday” has a quiet music-box feel, ebbing and flowing, building and regrouping, setting a relaxing mood. It’s a thoughtful, sonorous journey, bluesy, quietly fading.
Then we get the swivel-hipped saunter of “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So,” followed by big-band whispers of rhythm on “Love You Madly.”
“Melancholia” with its pensive take, is just right.
The pianist effortlessly creates an impromptu waterfall of notes on the whiz-bang “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” This one really shows off Morgenroth’s uncanny ability to combine silky technique with complex muscle memory.
“Prelude to a Kiss” is a bluesy toe-tapper, signing off with otherworldly chords; “In a Sentimental Mood” is wistful, pretty.
On “C Jam Blues,” Morgenroth really gets rolling. He gets started by playing a raunchy, intricate rhythm at the bottom while pecking and tapping a response on top, perfectly meshed, building up to a full-bore jam that sounds like he has considerably more digits on his right hand than the normal person. That kind of spur-of-the-moment channeling of ideas goes to the heart of jazz, and it takes a very big talent to pull it off seamlessly. David, you do the Duke proud!
The CD was recorded by Andy Waterman at Umbrella Media, Chatsworth, Calif. For more information, visit the artist at www.davidmorgenroth.com.
– Mariss McTucker
