Music
Press
Reviewer: Ralph A. Miriello www.jazz.com:?"Yellow Mountain" effectively commemorates drummer Rick Frank's trip to China.
A picture of what appears to be a temple atop Huang Shan, which translates to Yellow Mountain,
imposingly decorates the album cover. The song with its "carpet of sound" by pianist Brad Hatfield
is a tip to that style's master, McCoy Tyner. It forays into a rhythmically driven extended piece of
improvisational jazz with some nice soprano work by Bruce Abbott. With Frank and Synder effectively laying down the tempo off which the others feed, this is a nicely crafted piece with Eastern undertones.
Jim Robitaille's Metheny-like guitar work in the final solo adds another element of texture to this piece that
sets it apart from its predecessors.
- www.jazz.com
John Book, www.booksmusic.com:
Rick Frank has been playing drums with jazz bands for many years, but many have become to
love the work he has released under his own name. Yellow Mountain (??) (Decker Creek) he
performs with two different sets of musicians to create one of those jazz albums that you
know you will have on repeat for years, the kind of album you’ll want to share with
friends when they want to know what you’re currently listening to. Even if you’re not
listening to it, it’s the album that you pull out to show off your stereo equipment.
Frank has a number of friends helping out on this album, including Mark Snyder (bass),
Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Paulo Stagnaro (percussion), Brad Hatfield (piano, keyboards),
Bruce Abbott (saxophone), and Jim Robitaille (guitar). There’s a modern feel to this jazz,
the kind that was explored by many artists from the late 70’s on, it’s very electric in
feel but not in the Miles Davis sense. It’s very soulful and perhaps a few steps away from
smooth jazz, but hearing the different textures and changes within the title track will make you realize this isn’t a group of musicians who are working on cruise control. “Island Of Introspection” sounds a bit like Pat Metheny through Robitaille’s guitar work, while “Hymn To Kalopi” could have easily been performed with Stan Kenton or Steely Dan in
mind, it’s very mellow in its pace, very deliberate and precise, creating a drive that is
relaxing and sensual at the same time, even though it was written as a musical hymn. “Monk
Funk” is just as what the title indicates, a nice jazzy funk track honoring the Thelonious one in song and perceived dance. Frank is a very full and fluid drummer, never playing too
loud but always adding color to create the pictures he wants listeners to hear and see.
- www.booksmusic.com
Discography
Yellow Mountain (黄山）
Brookline Summer
The Labyrinth
Photos
Bio
On Yellow Mountain, Rick Frank returns to the recording studio with special guests Oscar Stagnaro
on bass, and Paulo Stagnaro on percussion. Yellow Mountain also contains a composition, "Island of
Introspection" by one of Rick's high school classmates, Tom Davis.
The title track, composed by Rick, was inspired by a trip to China he took with his family in 2007.
The cover photo was taken by Rick at Huang Shan (translation - Yellow Mountain). The song attempts
to capture the power of the landscape at Huang Shan, and also the respect he has for the strength and
resilience of the Chinese people that he observed during his travels around China.
Veterans all, bringing to the bandstand a cohesiveness and experience rarely found in bands today.
Their multi-storied pasts only add to the depth and dimension of the music. The rich colors and tones
of individual solo work offer the listener music that is immediately engaging, exciting and not often
heard played at this level.
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