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All
Music Guide
Karl Schloz
- "A Smooth One"
Ken
Dryden, All Music Guide
It's
obvious from hearing the first track of Karl Schloz's first Nagel
Heyer CD that an accomplished guitarist is in the making. Schloz
not only took advantage of hearing the master of seven-string guitar,
Bucky Pizzarelli, on numerous occasions at New York's late, lamented
restaurant Zinno, but got to know him and studied with Pizzarelli
at his New Jersey home.
The
payoff is a leader who plays a variety of styles very well, yet
doesn't feel like he has to dominate every track, even though it
is his date. Schloz is joined by two veterans on the trio tracks,
bassist Steve LaSpina and pianist Tony Monte; the warm tenor saxophonist
Harry Allen is added on four selections. "Wholly Cats," a lively
blues associated with Benny Goodman, is the snappy opener; a foot-patting
"Moonglow" is the immediate follow-up.
Other
classics treated with finesse by Schloz include a superb trio arrangement
of Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism," the easygoing ballad "Girl Talk"
from Count Basie's play book, and a brief solo treatment of "Isn't
It Romantic." Recommended. 4 Stars.
Ken Dryden
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