Berman Foundation Newsletter 06/00

JOE CARTWRIGHT QUARTET

La Luna Negra

Lafayette Music

I have long argued that Joe Cartwright is the most underrated, under-recorded pianist in Kansas City and that he is a strong contender for world-class honors.

"La Luna Negra" goes a considerable distance in correcting Cartwrights tragic lack of recorded material. To my knowledge. the only other recording fronted by the pianist is "Triplicity," a trio date from the early 1990s available only on cassette (my copy is nearly worn out).

Reflecting his recent interest in Brazilian music, "La Luna Negra" is an energetic Latin-tinged session featuring Steve Rigazzi on bass, Doug Auwarter on drums and percussion and Gary Helm on additional percussion. As Cartwright writes in the liner notes. "La Luna Negra represents the fruit of my passion for Latin jazz."

This basket of passion fruit contains such sweet delights as Waiter Booker's "Saudade" Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca" Bill Cuniiffe's "Samba Feliz" and Michel Camilo's "On Fire," but my favorites are the 14-minute exploration of Cedar Walton's "Jacob's Ladder," the beautiful title track by Michael Melvoin and the soulful take on Eddie Harris' "Cold Duck Time," that finishes with an irresistible tension-and-release section.

Cartwright's two-fisted attack always has reminded me of Gene Harris. Like Harris, he has a sure sense of time, an appreciation for the blues and a confident, propulsive quality that heightens the excitement level of everything he plays.