Samba De Orfeu
Deborah Henson-Conant and Benny Green
Hot jazz harp
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Here is a combination of musicians that one would not expect.
The Benny Green Trio of the early 1990s, with pianist Green, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Carl Allen, are joined by the very skilled Deborah Henson-Conant who is one of the world’s few jazz harpists.
While Henson-Conant usually recorded easy listening and poppish music, this performance of “Samba De Orfeu” finds her excelling in a straight-ahead setting.
McBride smiles throughout and Green looks on with a bit of wonder as Henson-Conant builds up a solo that starts out melodically and becomes surprisingly intense by its end.
Green has a short exciting solo of his own with some rapid octaves before the harpist takes the song out.
It all works quite well.
Personnel:
Deborah Henson-Conant, harp
Benny Green, piano
Christian McBride, bass
Carl Allen, drums
– Scott Yanow
