Reviewed by Nippy Cripwell

John Lester: Live at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House.
As a ‘live’ performance, and especially a ‘live’ Bass Player’s performance, this is a more than satisfying CD. John Lester explains during the show that he has evolved out of the group performance situation into that of the more austere solo Bass/singer. His show opens in this format and you are immediately struck by how full-bodied his songs are in spite of the obvious limitations you would expect with one Bass, one voice. Lester uses an 80 year old upright, a Joe Zon fretless and a Michael Tobias fretted Bass to accompany his voice in different song settings.
The 80 year old ‘Sarah’ struts lean ‘walking’ lines through ‘Rose Coloured Glasses’, the humorous ‘ I Like Brunettes’ with scat solo, a classic ‘All Blues’ with sax player Bob Johnson, and finally the show closer ‘They Come and They Go’. Just a comment on his Upright Bass sound; such a rounded, tight, humming tone, great for live performance!
The Zon fretless features in the modal composition ‘The Ways of a Woman’. Just listen to how much he gets going behind the great lyric. John Lester is an award winning song writer ; songs like this bear testimony to the fact. The fretted Tobias comes to the fore in the simple but beautifully crafted ‘I Saw You’ and the seriously funky ‘Your Tattoo’. The latter is, for a change, an indictment for tasteful slapping.
John Lester Live is something else, literally! This performance is an exercise in minimalism – music made by one man with one voice and one Bass, and occasionally adding one other instrument. It works because of the broadness of John Lester’s song writing palette and his ability to play the Bass so well in so many different styles. Enjoy it for the performance, the compositions and hey just everything!

Carbonne - Di Piazza - Manring.
One could sub – title this collaboration, Masters at Play. Such is the immediate impact of these virtuosi of the electric Bass guitar. All have awesome technique, gorgeous sound and mature, tasteful musicality. Each player has his own unique voice yet in ensemble they manage to blend effortlessly to enhance the individual composition, irrespective of the composer. And each of these gentlemen write wonderful compositions.
Yves Carbonne kicks off with ‘Anticipation’ dedicated to John McLaughlin. One can hear the European influence in the writing reminiscent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra/ ECM era. He has a rich fretless tone which he showcases over some wonderful accompaniment from the other guys; listen to Manring’s Ebow motif just before the solo (The Ebow gives the equivalent sound of the ‘steel’ on a Steel or Pedal Steel guitar). Again on ‘Detachment’ the stately Carbonne melody is really set up by Manring’s Ebow introduction before Yves takes it away on fretless. ‘Holy Spirit’ is a solo showcase for Carbonne’s dedication to Leo Carbonne, a really evocative piece.
Dominique Di Piazza brings a unique Flamenco approach to this project. His tour de force rendition of ‘Little Rose’ dedicated to Rosita Di Piazza is one of the CD’s highlights. Flamenco fire on the Electric Bass! For me ‘Ever Lasting Love’ has to be the most achingly beautiful ballad I have heard in a while. The mood is perfectly set up by Carbonne/ Manring before Dominique sings out the beautifully simple melody.
Michael Manring brings the American influence to the collaboration; a tougher rhythmic approach (check out Sub Jam), a denser harmonic concept and a complete mastery of all the tonal/ electronic effects available on the Electric bass. His ‘For Phillippe’ is a perfect example of Manring’s complex genius.
Possibly the highlight of this project is the interplay of the three Masters in the more improvised trio situations (‘ Nuestra Esperanza’, ‘Le Retour Du Loup’ and the humorous ‘What’s On Her Mind’ ) . Each has the individual strength and maturity to contribute tastefully so that the whole is greater musically than the parts thereof.
If you only buy one CD this year Bass brothers and sisters, this is the One.