Greg Skaff: Re Up

Mixing standards and originals, the Burrell-like guitarist enjoys the space and liberty afforded by playing without another chord instrument

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Greg Skaff’s previous recording, Polaris (SMK Jazz, 2021) was a starry affair boasting two legends of jazz, Ron Carter on bass and the late Albert “Tootie” Heath, who died three years after the record’s release. The recording was replete with Skaff’s fluid guitar work redolent of, say, Kenny Burrell and is a beautifully elegant trio album that deserves to be heard more widely.

Kansas-born but New York based, Skaff is an alumnus of Stanley Turrentine’s band but he’s also played with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman and Bobby Watson. In addition to Polaris and Re Up he’s cut five more albums under his own name.

For his latest record he again uses the trio format but his approach is slightly different. This album marks the first time Skaff has recorded with a new working trio and the cohesion and compatibility of the three musicians is immediately obvious. Although he’s recorded with other configurations including organ, Skaff prefers the space to be found in a trio format because, as he opines: “I like the openness of playing with a chordless trio and being able to change voicings without clashing with someone.”

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Of the 10 tracks on the album, two are non-originals. Thelonious Monk’s Green Chimneys is afforded a snappy reading and Skaff is heard playing exquisitely delicate solo guitar on Duke Ellington’s Fleurette Africaine. The angular dissonance to the opening bars of Faith belies its subsequent breezy catchiness. Southern Pacific evinces a relaxed bluesy vibe in contrast to the title track with its labyrinthine head and pulsating swing. Two different versions of Peace Place, the first with the trio, the second solo, present a fascinating juxtaposition and insight into Skaff’s arranging, composing and playing skills.

Discography
Faith; Green Chimneys; No Cover; Swerve; Peace Place (trio); Reach Down Deep; Fleurette Africaine; Re Up; Southern Pacific; Peace Place (solo) (40.20)
Skaff (elg); Ugonna Okegwo (b); Jonathan Barber (d). New York City, 17 April & 2 October 2023.
Soulmation Records SMR001

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