May 2001

Mundell Lowe/Hendrik Meurkens
Mundell's Moods
Nagel-Heyer

By Miles Jordan

Mundell's Moods again pairs Meurkens with guitarist Mundell Lowe-a sort of follow-up to 1999's When Lights Are Lowe (Acoustic Music)-with one difference: here Meurkens mostly plays vibes. Recorded during a European tour last year with bassist Pat O'Leary and drummer Chuck Redd, and with pianist Larry Porter added to the session for variety, the 12 tunes include originals by each man with Lowe's bossa nova "A Lad Named Charlie" and Porter's lilting samba "Shoreway" the stand-outs. The permutations of the quintet is a great idea that gives the 79- year-old Lowe-who still has the passion and technique of a much younger man-a chance to really show his stuff in duets with the dynamic Redd on an up-tempo "Seven Steps to Heaven" and with Meurkens (on harmonica) on "Body and Soul."