Although this is a bass date, one listen to this attractive recording will immediately summon fond memories of trumpeters Miles Davis and Chet Baker. And maybe it’s because Bardy once performed with Baker that this, his second recording, is filled with minimalist sketches.
Bardy allows trumpeter Paolo Fresu to deliver most of melodies. Often muted, Fresu is undeniably a disciple of the cool school as he blissfully coos through mostly muted trumpet. Bardy offers a sturdy support system for sextet, but mostly stays in the background except for the too brief “J’aimais 1,” which features a painfully beautiful arco bass solo against Eric Daniel’s gentle guitar strumming, and the solo effort, “Prelude.” Nothing amazing or offensive, A Few Notes is a solid date.
Jean Bardy: A Few Notes
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