Since the '80s,
Chesky Records
has been making its mark in three areas:
jazz
,
classical
, and
Latin
music. And over the years, pianist/producer
David Chesky
(who runs the label with his brother
Norman Chesky
) has demonstrated that he is quite capable of handling all three. Recorded in 1989,
Club de Sol
is among
's
outings; essentially, it falls into the
fusion
category. Those who consider themselves
purists insist that
isn't really
-- they'll tell you that
Jaco Pastorius
, for example, was strictly a
rock
instrumentalist and lacked
chops (which is absurd). But this instrumental CD is, in fact,
, although it's
with
pop
R&B
, and Brazilian elements.
isn't the type of
that goes out of its way to be cerebral and abstract.
favors the more lyrical, melodic side of
, and he does so in a very Brazilian-minded way. The writing sometimes brings to mind
Pat Metheny
, who is no stranger to Brazilian-influenced
. And another valid comparison (from a compositional standpoint) is
Chick Corea
, who also has some
Brazilian jazz
credentials. (
Flora Purim
and
Airto Moreira
were both members of
Corea
's first edition of
Return to Forever
). As accessible and melodic as
is, the CD was too loose and free-spirited for a lot of NAC/
smooth jazz
radio stations. Those formats shy away from
improvisation
and spontaneity -- the things that go with having a
mentality -- and that meant shying away from
. But that doesn't make this CD any less enjoyable. ~ Alex Henderson