Chicago, March 6th, 2020- Reed man Bernard Scavella, returns with his 3rd CD in a big way with
The Way I Feel
on his own Granville Records!
Bernard has assembled an
A list of Chicagoans
for this stellar recording with Will Howard bass, Jared Decker drums and Theodis Rodgers piano!
Regarding the title Bernard Scavella say's
"
the tunes, with the exception of track 1, arrangement's and production are mine and all are The Way I Feel"!
Chicago based for the last 30 years Bernard was raised in East Elmhurst, New York during a period when jazz greats such as Lucky Thompson, Cecil Taylor, Louis Armstrong, Cannonball Adderley and Jimmy Heath lived there!
It was during this period that the jazz flame was lit and Bernard Scavella's desire to play jazz began! Starting on clarinet, he added alto sax at age 13, switched to tenor at his mother’s insistence (she was a Sam “The Man” Taylor fan). Bernard later attended New York’s High School of Music & Art. He sat next to George Coleman once on a big band gig at 17.
However, young Bernard understanding he did not want to struggle financially as many great musicians were experiencing, by his own volition, without parental intervention, sought another primary occupation.
"
I had always been fascinated by the pharmacy, wondering what they were doing back there. I was intrigued by the science, chemistry and mathematics of it all. I figured if I earned a license, I could always make a decent wage while still pursuing my main passion, playing jazz
”!
From the opening tune
Dearly Beloved
the only non original of the 10 tune set Bernard's "passion" is front and center! While
Dearly Beloved
has become a jazz standard
Bernard’s seriously swinging arrangement breathes new life into this Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer classic…
and Theodis Rodgers piano solo here and throughout is as imaginative and inventive as you may hear or have heard anywhere!
Perhaps
a tip of the hat to his early teacher and influence Joe Henderson, track 2
Bossa Blues
is the first of some very in-creditable writing! Regarding Joe Henderson Bernard shares "
I started going to him for lessons, arpeggios, jazz technique and scales". Joe said "learn how to lead by dynamics, technique, ability and knowledge".
"I studied with him for 2 years and I learned so much I couldn’t absorb it all at that time. Joe was my biggest influence"!
All that Bernard has
"absorbed"
in his long storied music career comes through brightly throughout as with
Tranquility
, track 3! Here the soprano sax is the feature and the tender melodies and idea's flow very emotionally from the bell! Bernard's saxophone writing while steeped in tradition also has a foot in to the future.
With track 4
The Nurturer
one could call Bernard Scavella Dr. Groove for the uptempo foot tapper this tune seems to be and drummer Jared Decker gets the solo nod!
Continuing on with the tenor saxophone track 5 On
The Outside Looking In
is another all out swing master delight and Bernard let's it all go! Whew!
Slowing it down a pace to catch your breath no doubt is
V and Jay
a tune dedicated to record industry veteran
Vaughn Thomas
and radio legend
Jay Edwards
!
In The Pocket
could easily have been the title of a couple of the tunes on this rhythm rich melody soaked CD!.However, it’s this excellent blues tune reminiscent of the great Rhythm and Blues players of years past! But, alas it’s another sound shift for Bernard Scavella!
While both tracks
Fun
(#8) and
A Tasty Change
(#10) offer exuberant, although varying degrees of laser sharp combustible tempos and deep progressive tenor soloing
that'll leave most jazz enthusiast stomping for more!
In between is the tender ballad and final track
The Beauty Of April
with Bernard's rolling soulful tone is available for all to feel!
The Way I Feel
