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All Music Guide:
reviewed by Dave Nathan
Andy McCloud's recorded tribute to a friend of his nicknamed
"Bighead" was cut in 1990 in Pierre Sprey's studio in
the bucolic surroundings of Upper Marlboro, MD. Strangely, it
lay in the vaults for 10 years before being released. Playing
with his regular group (at that time), McCloud leads them through
a play list of his compositions. Despite the title, this is not
a blues-dominated session. "I'm Tired of Talking" is
a hard bop piece with Steve Nelson's vibes and Joe Ford's alto
taking solo honors. In contrast to this musical mayhem is the
laid back, quite sedate "Who Is My Mother", where McCloud
plays long, fat, resonant bass lines, less sharp than the style
of many of today's practitioners on the big fiddle. McCloud continues
his generosity in sharing the center stage spotlight as he lets
guest Larry Willis make a strong, but ruminative, statement on
"Song for Lou" as McCloud plucks away underneath making
it one of the more melodic tracks on the CD. The mike picks up
the spontaneous jivin' as McCloud counts off the beat on the album's
flag waver, "Blues for Bighead" kicked off by the boppish
alto of Joe Ford, it turns into a blues laden eight minute workout
of a McCloud head arrangement where everyone gets plenty of room
to express themselves as Victor Jones's beats out the tempo, shoots
out rim shots and otherwise engages in percussive calisthenics
designed to make a statement.
Although McCloud (has) been on the jazz scene for several years,
having worked with such notables as Elvin Jones, Jon Hendricks
and Jimmy McGriff, but has never really become a name that average
jazz fans would recognize. This debut album should help change
that. Recommended.
CMJ:
Bassist Andy McCloud has played countless sessions
with such folks as Elvin Jones, Dizzy Gillespie and Don Pullen.
Here he’s put together a beautiful quartet that sounds
like a classic Blue Note session from the early ‘60s. The
playing starts out in a straight-ahead groove but looks to break
off into adventurous improvisation whenever possible, particularly
on “Waltz For A Nebulous Woman.” McCloud sets the
tone here with a bouncing bass style that swings deep, but in
a jaunty sort of way.
August 2001
All About Jazz:
reviewed by Asim Memon
Bassist Andy McCloud convenes the Gentlemen
of Jazz–his working band–to produce a satisfying
set of straightahead improvised music. Around jazz since the
New York loft scene, McCloud worked with likes of Elvin Jones
in the late ‘70s, Clifford Jordan in the early ‘80s,
and Hilton Ruiz through the ‘90s. Blues for Bighead represents
McCloud’s first disc as a leader. The all-original program
of blues and blues-oriented pieces provides some engaging
twists: for one, the presence of Steve Nelson on vibes in
the seat traditionally occupied by piano in a quartet ensemble.
Nelson really stretches out on “Lisa” and his mallet-work
reinforces the groovy atmosphere. Joe Ford’s piercing
yet soulful voice on alto and soprano saxes captures the listener’s
attention throughout the session. His alto on the opening
number evinces a sophisticated command of the blues idiom.
Ford cuts loose long, flowing upper-register phrases on his
solo on “Waltz for a Nebulous Woman”. McCloud himself
keeps things fresh by displaying the full complement of bass
technique: fat walking lines on “Blues for Bighead”
and a bowed introduction and closing on “Waltz for a
Nebulous Woman”. Bass and piano make an enticing duet.
McCloud presents two numbers, “Song for Lou” and
“Who Is My Mother”, with pianist Larry Willis. Fans
of mainstream jazz will find their generic expectation fulfilled
by this debut offering from a jazz journeyman.
August 2001
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