Warren Vaché
Vaché is the splendid East Coast cornetist-flugelhorn player whose warm tone and calm, melody-conscious improvisations are as good as any in mainstream jazz today. He's probably best known for teaming up with sax player Scott Hamilton, but on this album—his sixth under his own name—he performs with pianist John Bunch and bassist Phil Flanigan. The three musicians, who often appear at a midtown Manhattan club (hence the LP title), complement each other beautifully. Technique flaunting never gets in the way of communicating musical ideas. They're under control on even Bud Powell's up-tempo Tempus Fugit or Monk's Rhythm-A-Ning, but their style lends itself to mellower standards such as I'm Old Fashioned, I Remember April and Out of Nowhere. Understated musicians that they are, Vaché and friends aren't likely to be tabbed for Solid Gold, but connoisseurs of quiet, tasteful jazz couldn't ask for more.
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