Dave Gelly 

Harry Allen/Jan Lundgren Quartet: Quietly There review – Johnny Mandel’s songs inspire

Harry Allen and Jan Ludgren make the most of these nine songs by Johnny Mandel, writes Dave Gelly
  
  

allen-lundgren-mandel
Making the most of Mandel: the Harry Allen/Jan Lundgren Quartet. Photograph: Stephen Freiheit Photograph: Stephen Freiheit

Allen, the American master of melodic, swinging tenor saxophone, and Lundgren, a Swedish pianist of infinite subtlety, make a good partnership. They think alike and clearly enjoy each other’s playing as they immerse themselves in these nine songs by Johnny Mandel. Some of them, like the theme from M*A*S*H, are not obvious jazz material, but Mandel, like his contemporary Henry Mancini, has always been a jazzman at heart and it shows. Two numbers especially, Emily and The Shining Sea, evoke really inspired performances. Bassist Hans Backenroth and drummer Kristian Leth complete the quartet, applying an appropriately light touch.

 

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