Shelly Berg: Alegria
Author: Alyn Shipton
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Carlitos Del Puerto (b) |
Label: |
Artist Share |
Magazine Review Date: |
October/2024 |
Media Format: |
DL |
RecordDate: |
Rec. 2024 |
Pianist Berg has a long association with jazz education in Florida and now splits his time between Miami and Los Angeles.
This trio draws together some of his recent work, notably including original tracks that allude to his West Coast home in Santa Monica, such as the ravishing ‘Marina Sunset’ that captures the laid-back atmosphere of nearby Marina Del Ray. His piano lines blend intricately with Del Puerto's bass and the drums of Prieto, who does so much more than just keep time, creating a constantly moving musical conversation with his colleagues.
The title track is just such a conversation, and when Butler's tenor joins the mix, notably on the funky ‘Meatballs and Apple Pie’ with a band vocal thrown in, the disc exudes joy and fun as well. This is quite intentional, and the inclusion of tracks called ‘Joy’ and ‘Bliss’ continue the mood. The former has a translucent right-hand piano theme running above the trio, the latter opening with an inviting repetitive bass pattern that sets the mood. All three trio members wear their instrumental mastery lightly, and when we reach ‘When Next We Meet’ by way of a knotty piece called ‘Red Rocks, Tall Cactus’ (with another cameo for Butler) there's definitely a sense that it would again be fun and rewarding to encounter these musicians.
Jazzwise Full Club
- Latest print and digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums throughout the year
- Reviews Database access
From £9.08 / month
SubscribeJazzwise Digital Club
- Latest digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
- Reviews Database access