'Stay There' and Listen to Jorge Rossy's State-of-the-Art Euro Jazz Project on Pirouet Records [REVIEW]

When vibraphonist/composer/bandleader Jorge Rosse, 52, tells you to Stay There, you listen. His new Pirouet Records release out of Germany is total state-of-the-art Euro jazz from a label that knows what it's doing and an artist who has the good sense to surround himself with genius.

Rossy, from the autonomous community of Spain called Catalonia, is a drummer by trade. He's had a string of superstar bosses from Chick Corea and Woody Shaw to Charlie Hayden. He was also behind the kit for the Brad Mehldau Trio from '94 to '05. He's now put his sticks down in favor of mallets, and replaced himself on drums with Al Foster who played with Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and, most famously, Miles Davis from '72 to '85.

Tenor sax man Mark Turner is a leader in his own right. Guitarist Peter Bernstein played with Sonny Rollins. Bassist Doug Weiss has played with Rossy since '91 and with Foster since '95. This quintet seriously burns on seven Rossy originals, including the "Who Knows About Tomorrow" waltz opener.

Argentina's Guillermo Klein wrote "Artesano" with Rossy in mind while Foster goes African to supply a Congo beat. Billie Holiday co-wrote "God Bless The Child" in 1939. Rossy rewrote its changes as "Blessed." Turner steals the show blowing wild on "Mark's Mode." Sister Mercedes Rossy wrote "Newcomer" as a slow swing, complete with intoxicating bass solo. "MmmYeah" hits its twisting blues changes in 5/4 time. Foster wrote "Pauletta" for his 1978 Mixed Roots album.

There's something magical when five such masters convene on a project, egos definitely still intact yet bouncing off one another for the benefit of us all.

TagsJorge Rossy, Pirouet Records, REVIEW, Al Foster