Stephane Grappelli - Conversations (CD)

All Music Guide

Conversations demonstrates the versatility of jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli as he ventures into unfamiliar territory with the Indian jazz fusion compositions of L. Subramaniam, who plays a variety of acoustic and electric string instruments, plus tambura, surmandel and percussion. Grappelli's tradeoffs with Subramaniam (on Violectra) in "' Don't Leave Me" are magical, while Grappelli also shines in the acoustic arrangement of "Memories," which also features a guest appearance of alto saxophonist Frank Morgan, who was beginning a major comeback at the time after years wasted in prison. Joe Sample adds a nice touch on keyboards throughout most of the album. Grappelli, always a bit of a showman who enjoyed playing solo piano in concert when the opportunity arose, takes advantage in the studio to play his own exuberant "Tribute to Mani." While this is an atypical recording for Stéphane Grappelli, it is worth investigating.

- Ken Dryden, All Music Guide