Reviews of We Like Previn

Jazz Journal

Volenza VMCD 101

In terms of his mastery of so many disparate musical areas, Andre Previn ranks with Duke Ellington. Not only did he score a host of musicals, conduct symphony orchestras and lead some of the most successful jazz trios of the 1960s, he also wrote numerous tunes in the great American Songbook tradition. And a goodly selection of those melodies are reprised here by a fine Scandinavian quartet piloted by that exemplary Swedish jazz pianist Jan Lundgren, who also arranged the material in imaginative fashion.

            A number of the 14 Previn tunes offered – Guiding Light is by debut producer Torgil Rosenberg – have gained standard currency, notably You’re Gonna Hear From

Me, I Like Myself, Theme From Valley Of The Dolls and The Pleasure Of Your Company, a collaboration with Johnny Mercer. Other songs aired by the quartet certainly deserve to be better known. They simply underline that whatever the assignment, Previn never gave it perfunctory treatment. Recorded a couple of months after Andre’s 80th birthday, this set

does justice to his songwriting talent, while Lundgren shows his obvious regard for the maestro’s pianistic acumen with some typical touches. All the instrumentals are nicely interpreted. On four selections the quartet is expanded by Polish vocalist Vivian Buczek,

a graduate of Malmo Academy of Music. Her diction is excellent, she swings and makes a good fist of bop scatting on the closing track.

            This is a satisfying tribute to a true prodigy and a lifelong major artist, whose work bestrides the Hollywood, Broadway, jazz and classical idioms. Incidentally, he has also been a prolific genius at crafting background movie music. It was, for example, his magnificent score which helped to raise the unbearable tension in that memorable thriller, Bad Day At Black Rock.

            The CD comes with a well produced and most informative booklet covering Previn’s career in detail and with biographies of the musicians and helpful annotations on the tunes. The group’s next project will be a programme of Cole Porter’s music which should be well worth waiting for.

Mark Gardner

 

DIG Jazz: Taste, humor and elegance. Everything in a perfect compound.
Rating 5 out of 5
 
André Previn is one of modern music's most multi-talented people. He is an excellent jazz pianist, which he has shown on a number of albums on the Contemporary and Telarc labels over the years, he is a divinely gifted interpreter of the great, classical masters as both executor and conductor, and he is a composer and arranger of the highest dignity in all possible areas. He has, for example, when he has played jazz with Ray Brown and the boys, served as principal conductor of London Symphony Orchestra, and he has written music for a number of Hollywood films and Broadway musicals with stars such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Katherine Hepburn, Natalie Wood and Shirley McLaine. The use of the adjective "complete"  is certainly not an exaggeration.

Stockholm dentist Torgil Rosenberg has over the years been fascinated by Previn and his music and has, therefore, on his own initiative, commissioned and recorded "We Like Previn". He also handpicked the quartet that he thought were the best to interpret some of the Berlin-born genius' compositions. The choice fell on Jan Lundgren and four of his friends: guitarist Jacob Fischer, bassist Hans Backenroth, drummer John Löfcrantz Ramsey and singer Vivian Buczek. Rosenberg could not have made a better choice.

Lundgren has arranged the whole party, which consists of 14 Previn songs and, lo and behold, a tribute composition of the producer himself, Torgil Rosenberg. And that Jan liked the challenge to browse in The André Previn Songbook is obvious. With lots of respect, taste and love he has worked with Previn often originally constructed compositions, many of them already from the beginning intended for  jazz, but others destined for other uses.
In the former category belongs perhaps the blues "Saturday", but the fact that it is built according to the pattern 12-12-8-12 makes it a little trickier. Which does not seem to have worried any of the Quartet the least. Another blues, the more conventional kind, "Blues for Georgia," which opens the exercises, is an amazing number, that really shows what the gang is capable of. Lundgren embroider just the right bit awkward but is part of Bengt Hallberg-wise, and Fischer is, as usual, breathtaking. The man seems to without effort get acquainted with almost any context whatsoever.

To describe the content of "We Like Previn", each track at a time, seems unnecessary. But let us still say that cooperation with the Quartet is perfect. No Swedish bassist has played steadier and more harmonically sophisticated than this Backenroth, no one had passed the drum game better and more refined than the tasteful technician John Löfcrantz Ramsey and Jacob Fischer is - as already mentioned - totally incomparable. Yet it is Jan Lundgren, who pulls the heaviest load. He has never been better on top! His now personal and refined way to express themselves in is a marvel of taste, humor and elegance. Everything in a perfect combination.

Finally, the four tracks also involve Vivian Buczek, who undoubtedly will become one of our really big names on the song front in the nearest future. She sings right, clean and comfortable with an irresistible jazz feel. In "Like Young", which also Ella Fitzgerald recorded, she is grand. Unless Andre Previn jumping for joy when he hears "We Like Previn", he should immediately contact a doctor.


Jan Olsson
 
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Mundell Lowe
(Guitarist of Previn Trio)

I just had a second bar to your CD ... VERY WELL DONE!
I am sure Andre Will Be Thrilled with it. Please tell all the musicians & the lady singer, Do They did a great job. Thank you for Sending the CD. I Have friends here in San Diego That Will hear it at my home. The c d can not leave my house.
Keep up the good work, the world need more jazz!
All the best ...
Mundell Lowe

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OrkesterJournalen
Rating 5 out of 5

From a sightseeing boat on the Thames in 1968, I see, in giant letters, "Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra" on a building near the Houses of Parliament. Previn had that year started working with the London Symphonic Orchestra and continued to work with the orchestra until 1979.
Jazz pianist, film composer and conductor Andre Previn is one of the greatest musical talents. He has written music for Hollywood films and Broadway musicals with stars such as Gene Kelly, Shirley McLaine, Natalie Wood, Katherine Hepburn and Fred Astaire and is here celebrated by a Scandinavian jazz elite. Jacob Fischer and his divinely gifted guitar is bringing lots of "that little extra help" and they've had the good taste to invite Vivian Buczek.

In the press release I read the "new discovery" Vivian Buczek, but this super musical woman is actually already well sung into our hearts! She sings so easily and naturally. Hans Backenroth stands for safe and secure bass playing of the highest class. Johan Löfcrantz provides a sample of well-adapted drumming so he is also well qualified for the band, especially in the equilibristic Saturday. The result is a very successful and well produced album, which Previn can rejoice if he hears it. I imagine him listening to Hi Blondie, Blues for Georgia or one of Previn's most famous melodies, bluesy Like Young as Vivian sings as good as Ella Fitzgerald, that is amazingly good.
Jan Lundgren plays brilliantly. Listen to The Pleasure of Your Company - so cruel! It cannot be better when Jan and Jacob Fischer drag on. Lundgren has also arranged all the songs.

Producer Torgil Rosenberg contribute last track Guiding Light, which is a tribute to André Previn. Vivian's wordless singing, accompanied by jazz giants become like a festive closing fireworks at this jazzy tribute.


Lasse Seger

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Kuriren

We Like Previn (VMCD 101) is  "the bargain of the week". Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren has made a good name in many contexts. Check for example "Swedish Standards" with lullaby-like materials. Here it is André Previn's music that is dealt with a super talented quartet + singer Vivian Buczek. Previn was a child prodigy who started piano at age 4 and was established on the records when he was 16! He has written a lot of good music, songs, musicals, movies, and this group of musicians is duly inspired by it and by each other. Plus, I have a nice feeling that a good producer has kept his waking ears open. It is beautiful without being sleazy, it's brilliant without being fireworks - there is melody and heaps of good humor on top of a firm but unobtrusive accompaniment.
So, a grindstone drawn.


Åke Grandell