Bill Barner (with Stan Smith, Roger Hines, Danny Aguiar) – Ten Tunes
Jazz music allows for the exploration of many avenues of creativity. Clarinetist Bill Barner wrote these ten tunes while thinking of music from various continents. Accompanied by Stan Smith (guitar), Roger Hines (bass), and Danny Aguiar (drums), the Virginia-based musician is blessed with a smooth touch that moves effortlessly from one emotional note to the next. Smith’s virtuosic guitar-playing also has some great lines … as lyrical, fluid, and tricky as they need to be. Bill Barner is also an accomplished saxophonist, and I was a bit surprised that he didn’t lay down a few tracks with that instrument too. Barner currently plays with two jazz combos (Night and Day; Some Like It Hot), as well as lead tenor sax in the 17-piece Difficult Run Jazz Band.
Together, the quartet on this album creates buoyant music with a powerful groove with influences from around the world. Listening closely for those twists and turns, one has to appreciate the musical mojo in “Charm Offensive” with its Brazilian beat. Or the unique flair of a peppy “Squeaky Rico.” When you hear the funky “Wide Stance Dance,” you wanna shout let’s boogie! Inspired by clarinet players of Turkey, the Balkans, and the Middle East, “Connecting Dots” uses an enchanting improvisational prelude and interesting scale for its presentation. As in “Barbaro,” bassist Hines is also given the opportunity for some inventive exploration in that piece. I understand that he’s toured the world with Ray Charles and Diane Schuur. The album’s closer, “Palmas” evokes the excitement of Spanish flamenco and has a slightly annoying clap track that fortunately lasts only about a minute during Smith’s guitar solo. The album has moments of dazzling brilliance, and the musicians’ imaginative improvisations and interpretive variations are quite impressive. (Joe Ross, CD Insight)
