About
James Williams opens the solo section with two choruses of piano on Sergio Mendes's "Groovy Samba," bringing a Brazilian rhythmic flavor to Rickey Woodard's 1992 live album The Tokyo Express. At approximately 178 BPM over the 32-bar AABA form in G minor, his playing adapts fluently to the samba rhythm while maintaining his jazz harmonic vocabulary, the Latin feel providing a welcome change of pace from the album's swing-based performances. As the first of two soloists, Williams's two-chorus statement establishes the groove that Woodard will build upon in his subsequent alto saxophone feature, the live setting capturing the audience's enthusiastic response to the rhythmic shift.
James Williams was 40 to 41 years old at the time.
Comments
What do you think of this solo?