While talking with vocal institution Tony Bennett about his new CD last week, the subject of Ralph Sharon, his pianist for the better part of half a century, came up.
“He’s incredible,” Bennett told me. “He was with me for many years, and he’s never played a wrong note. He’s a magnificent musician.”
“He gave me my signature song, ‘(I Left My Heart in) San Francisco.’ But more than that, he really had me lean toward jazz, which helped me sell an awful lot of records.”
When I phoned Sharon, who has called Boulder home for the past few years while basking in semi-retirement (he plays locally, including a scheduled performance at Dazzle on Wednesday), he was flattered by his former employer’s comments. And he confesses that he has something of an obsession with always hitting the “right” note.
“I have a built-in feeling, that if I ever do play the wrong note or chord, it drives me crazy and I can’t sleep at night,” Sharon said. “I believe if you’re a professional, wrong notes shouldn’t happen.”
That could serve as a slogan for the tasteful pianist, who has plied his trade as a sensitive accompanist and interpreter of standards reaching back to his residency 60 years ago in Ted Heath’s popular big band in Sharon’s native England. At 83, Sharon plays with grace and agility.
“I play popular music, standards with a jazz feel,” he said of his repertoire with his trio. “I learned not to play anything the public doesn’t know from Tony. Whenever he did a show, he sang songs that people knew.”
After a lifetime on stages around the world, Sharon has learned to enjoy the slower pace, playing shows only when he wants. Colorado serves as the ideal place for him to finally settle down.
“I love it,” he said. “I’m here because my son married a girl from Boulder. My wife said, ‘You’re retiring. You’re going to Boulder.’
“But old piano players never retire.”
As for Bennett’s new disc, “Duets – An American Classic” (RPM Records) is a pleasant affair. The singer is in relaxed form, and superstars like Bono and Tim McGraw join in respectfully. But it could have used some confident swing from his old friend who escaped the rigors of the road and now makes Colorado his home. Bennett’s loss is our gain.
The Ralph Sharon Trio, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, 930 Lincoln St. Tickets are $5. Call 303-839-5100.
Coleman’s return
Ten years have passed since saxophone iconoclast Ornette Coleman has released any new music. A genuine free-thinker who chose to follow his own path instead of making any sort of commercial compromise, his vision continues to be rewarding and exciting on “Sound Grammar,” which is also the name of Coleman’s new label.
This live concert recording showcases his latest quartet, which he’s toured with sporadically in recent years. With son Denardo Coleman on drums telepathically communicating with his dad, and bassists Gregory Cohen and Tony Falanga creating a veritable sea of thick sound, Coleman’s fearless, more-human-than-ever alto cry is liberating on a handful of new compositions and a couple of ones familiar to Coleman’s faithful, including a blazing take on the relentless “Song X.”
Listening to this disc reinforces the notion that Coleman’s has always been one of the friendliest, most joyous voices in the avant-garde. Even his once-scandalous approach to the trumpet and violin now come off as celebratory. This is disappointing only in the sense that this hour-long performance isn’t nearly enough to tide us over until the next time he decides to let loose with more of his ideas and singular improvisations.
Set list
The seventh annual Sutton’s Rocky Mountain Jazz Festival concludes today at the Downtown Marriott City Center … tonight’s performance by the trio of guitarist Bill Frisell, drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Jerome Harris at the Boulder Theater might turn out to be one of this year’s more memorable performances … Madeleine Peyroux’s star is rising. She sings at the Paramount on Tuesday … guitarist Nguyen Le and his Tiger’s Tail Quartet play Oct. 14-15 at Dazzle.
Bret Saunders’ column on jazz appears every other Sunday in A&E. Saunders is host of the “KBCO Morning Show,” 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at 97.3-FM. His e-mail address is bret_saunders@hotmail.com.
