CD Reviews

Plamen Karadonev

Crossing Lines | Mu

By JON GARELICK | March 18, 2008

3.0 Stars

This debut CD from young Bulgarian-born pianist Karadonev (now living in Boston) recommends itself despite occasionally wayward electronics and a singer whose accent distracts you from the English lyrics. But the accent isn’t enough to derail the Michel Legrand standard “You Must Believe in Spring,” because Karadonev and his band take it on such a probing, harmonically reconceived journey between verses. Besides, Elena Koleva’s voice has the right emotional heft and control, and that makes her perfect for the wordless line she sings in unison with George Garzone’s tenor sax on the Karadonev original “Sianic.” Otherwise, the “lines” crossed here include the standards and originals, jazz and classical (a ripping, up-tempo, full-band arrangement by Karadonev of Schumann’s “Fröhlicher Landmann”), Bulgarian and Brazilian (Ivan Lins’s “The Island”). And the band sound great together. You can forgive the oddness of Berklee trombone sage Hal Crook’s synthy “trom-o-tizer,” which allows him to double his lines, because he actually broadens the tune with it, and Garzone — known for brawn — is also as delicate and detailed as Stan Getz. Karadonev, meanwhile, personalizes everything he plays, whether it’s his rubato treatment of Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” or his own folk-into-jazz dulcimer-like shadings — and necessary accent — on “Rondo ala Bulgar.”

Eatin’ good in Boston’s ’hoods
15 joints, pubs, and bistros worth the trip
Tinseltown East
Boston was once a breeding ground for movie big-wigs. Now, Emerson College tries to preserve its ghosts.
Never mind the Citgo
Beyond the clichés and picture postcards, Boston hangs on to its character
More

Topics: CD Reviews , George Garzone , Cole Porter , Michel Legrand , More

Comments

Add a Comment

ARTICLES BY JON GARELICK

THE DOCTOR IS IN | October 08, 2008
Stanley Sagov’s jazz remedies, plus Saxophone Summit

BLINK. | THE EPIDEMIC OF IDEAS | October 01, 2008
Thirsty Ear (2008)

ROBOT LOVE | October 01, 2008
Terminator ’s wonder years

GETTING IT LIVE | September 23, 2008
Noah Preminger, Fernando Huergo, the John Coltrane Memorial Concert, and the BeanTown Jazz Festival

PATRICIA BARBER | THE COLE PORTER MIX | September 16, 2008
Blue Note

See all articles by: JON GARELICK

Most Viewed

Most Emailed

SCHLEPPING FOR OBAMA
The Boston roots of Sarah Silverman's Jewbama crusade

I HAD AN ABORTION
Forty percent of American women have abortions by the time they're 45. I'm one of them.

OLD TRICKSTER
At age 78, able-bodied Alan Abel’s life is still one big joke

BULL DISCLOSURE
As the candidates prep for the final debate, it’s a fitting time to ask: why do some journalistic conflicts of interest become scandals, while others get almost no attention at all?

THE MELTING POT
Dip into confusing dining

SCHLEPPING FOR OBAMA
The Boston roots of Sarah Silverman's Jewbama crusade

WORDS AS MUSIC
Alan Lupo was many things — among them, the best metro columnist Boston may ever see

PHOTOS: RISD'S CHACE CENTER
Images from Rhode Island School of Design's new museum

BULL DISCLOSURE
As the candidates prep for the final debate, it’s a fitting time to ask: why do some journalistic conflicts of interest become scandals, while others get almost no attention at all?

OLD TRICKSTER
At age 78, able-bodied Alan Abel’s life is still one big joke

HOT TOPICS

Boston Symphony Orchestra , Kim Deal , Radiohead , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Harvard University , Kurt Weill , James Levine , James Robinson , John Harbison , Brian Eno

CD Reviews

Plamen Karadonev

City of Ember

Saving Marriage

Quarantine

Sex Drive

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers