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"you rehearse until you're hitting everything on the head, and here comes a band like the Savoy Sultans, raggedy, fuzzy sounding, and they upset everything.'What am I doing here?' you wonder. But that's the way it is. That's jazz. If you get too clean, too precise. you don't swing sometimes, and the fun goes out of the music." - Trombonist Dicky Wells
 
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 Thursday, 08 January 2009
Beyond Bop: Paul Renz Celebrates Rebop at the Dakota, May 31st Print E-mail
Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor   
Wednesday, 28 May 2008

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Rebop
 

If Twin Cities guitarist Paul Renz went Beyond Blues on his last release, his new Rebop takes us well beyond bop, revisiting, reimagining, running circles around it. Again, Renz produces an eclectic set of largely original fare, moving from bop to funk, from blues to fusion and even a side trip to Brazil, again with his core rhythm team of Brian Ziemniak (Hammond B-3 and piano), Eric Graham (bass), and Nathan Fryett (drums). This time he brings on board master flautist Anders Bostrom from New Jersey, creating a distinctly different harmonic blend. All will be on hand on Saturday, May 31st to celebrate the relesase of Rebop  (Gabwalk Records) at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis.

A native of Washington, DC, Paul Renz earned degrees from the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. His academic resume includes developing jazz curriculum at an arts magnet high school in Norfolk, VA and teaching jazz at Tidewater Community College before coming to Minneapolis in 1994 to direct jazz studies at the West Bank School of Music. He’s also resident guitar instructor at the MacPhail Center for Music. Renz wasted no time becoming an integral part of the Twin Cities jazz scene in the mid 90s, continuing his roles as composer and bandleader as well as performer on guitar and electric bass. His five previous recordings earned such accolades as “neatly balancing taut and tuneful charts with spontaneous solos” (Tom Surowicz re Everlasting), “a challenging guitarist who keeps the pot boiling” (Frank Robolino re Dish It Up), “impressive compositional and instrumental chops” (Dan Emerson re Hubbub), and “serious fun for everyone” (Jim Meyer re Beyond Blues).

 

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Brian ZieminiakŠAndrea Canter
Renz’ core musicians are all busy contributors to the local music scene. Keyboard master Brian Ziemniak holds a degree in Industrial Engineering, studied jazz piano with Adi Yeshaya, Kenny Werner, Uri Caine, Vijay Iyer and Andy Milne, and performs with a long list of area bands including Moveable Feast, Yohannes Tona, and Blowzone. Bassist Eric Graham has taught throughout the Midwest including Winona State and Century College, studied Hindustani music, and play regularly with the John Paulson Quartet. Drummer Nathan Fryett plays with such diverse bands as 13 Hertz, The State Champs, Sketch Engine, and The Sweet Science. The addition of Anders Bostrom on Rebop reunites Renz with his Berklee College classmate. Originally from Nykvara, Sweden, Bostrom now lives in New Jersey, playing for Broadway productions and recording or touring with such giants as McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and Gary Burton.

 

Rebop features six original compositions from Paul Renz and a dazzling reworking of Bud Powell’s “Un Poco Loco,” all tracks arranged by Renz. One piece, the closing “Dish It Up,” previously appeared as the title track on one of Renz’s early releases.

 

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Nathan Fryett
The title track starts the set on its most boppish notes, a melody and progression that is filled with the artistry of Charlie Parker but the flute gives it a unique quality. Bostrom displays the masterful phrasing and tone that carries through the set, and Brian Z swings hard with a clarity of articulation that seems rare on the B-3. The timbre of flute and guitar are sufficiently close to suggest a blending of horns. From the first track, it’s clear that Renz and Bostrom were meant to play together. Latin tinges Renz’s arrangement of “Un Poco Loco,” with a more acoustic sound from Renz, while again the blend of flute and guitar, against the B-3 backdrop, creates majestic harmonies. Ziemniak gets his chance to cut loose, and Renz returns the favor. Organ, flute and guitar unite like three vocal chords of one voice. Bass and drums offer subtle drive and direction throughout. 

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Paul Renz
“Sloppy Joe” has a more Metheny-esque feel, more funky with some nifty drum breaks from Fryett and low growls from the B-3. Bostrom creates some eerie flutters, while guitar and flute weave their lines together. I had previously only heard Brian Z on acoustic piano—he’s a killer on organ. “Sambatude” has more attitude than samba! A grooving funk arrangement, Bostrom indeed flies us down to Rio at a fast pace, while Renz’s buzzy effects give the track a large dose of urban frenzy. “Farewell HP” is Renz’s tribute to former teacher, the late Herb Pomeroy. This magical ballad finds Ziemniak on acoustic piano, although electronic effects are close at hand thanks to Renz. Even Bostrom evokes a plugged-in flute, with a hollow reverb and a bit of shimmy. The track soars with a reverent melancholy.

The final two tracks bring together more fusion elements. “Ayo’s Hat” is a rocking delight, the B-3 moving in tandem with flute, Bostrom creating a sense of multiple reed tracks.  Bassist Graham contributes some substantial growls, and Ziemniak shines again as organ grinder. Each member of the ensemble helps to “Dish It Up,” a funky and high energy finale. It’s not a long set (under 50 minutes) but it is long on soulful harmonies and tight ensemble interactions, a perfect resume of the diverse compositional chops of one of the area’s most accomplished guitarists. Go “un poco loco” this Saturday night at the celebration of the release of ReBop, sure to be on the short list of best area recordings for 2008. 

The Paul Renz Quintet with Anders Bostrom performs at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, May 31st, 7 pm. Visit www.dakotacooks.com or call 612-332-1010 for reservations. 

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