Audio By Carbonatix
Dana Landry, who heads the jazz program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, isn’t some creaky relic who found refuge in academia after his skills deteriorated. Rather, he’s an engaging pianist whose latest long-player, which is being celebrated during a Friday, August 12, CD-release party at Dazzle, swings in an especially warm way.
The disc was cut in 2002 at Middle Tennessee State University, where Landry was teaching at the time, and it features a ringer: vibist Gary Burton, who’s performed with jazz greats for more than four decades. But neither Landry nor his support crew (saxophonist Don Aliquo, bassist Erik Applegate and drummer Chris Brown) appear to be awed by Burton’s presence. Although numbers such as “Deerhead Sketches” and the title cut don’t break new ground, they’re tasty, relaxed and assured visits to familiar territory.
For Landry, and for listeners, Home is a very nice place to be.
