*** HARVEY WAINAPEL; “Ambrosia: The Music of Kenny Barron”; A Records
San Francisco-based saxophonist Wainapel accomplishes two worthy goals with this surprising album: bringing light to the compositional skills of pianist Kenny Barron and attention to his own controlled, competent playing.
The first of two “suites” concentrates on Barron’s mainstream work, with Wainapel playing soprano, alto and tenor in front of the 50-piece Danish Metropole Orchestra conducted by Rob Pronk. The second half is a small-group session that concentrates on Barron’s writing in a Brazilian vein.
The orchestral arrangements by trumpeter-pianist Jeff Beal underscore the lyrical feeling in Barron’s compositions with grand dynamic sweeps and tasteful combinations of brass, strings and vibraphone. The settings also give Wainapel strong, emotional colors to work against.
Wainapel’s trio appears at the Jazz Bakery on Sunday at 4 p.m.; (310) 271-9039.
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