UK based multi-instrumentalist Iwan VanHetten toured as musical director with the groups Sister Sledge and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. He founded together with Rob Harris and Paul Turner the band Trioniq. As solo artist he has released the albums Time (2000) and this year Parabbean Tales on Blue Canoe Records.

Iwan performs on his new album trumpet. Additional studio musicians are Russell Ferrante (piano, keys), Will Kennedy (drums), Bob Mintzer (sax) and Jimmy Haslip, better known as members of the famous group Yellowjackets. Further involved musicians are Melvin Lee Davis (bass), Lenny Castro (percussion), and Andy Narell (steel pans).

The album is opened by the title track. VanHetten has come up with a neologism for the title that is second to none. The piece draws moments of tension through the counterpoint relationship between African rhythm and muted trumpet. Another plus point on the account uniqueness of this exceptional musician.

The exceedingly melodic piece Freedom grants the listener unrestricted immediate access and has high affection potential. The up-beat Cachete draws strength from the expressive fund of jazz of the '70s and '80s, where the rimshot and opposing countermelody were familiar stylistic elements that reached their preliminary apogee in Weather Report's Birdland.

On Not Without You he gives his trumpet free rein so that the melody can unfold in all its beauty. 5th Avenue in New York is probably the most famous and also the most expensive street in the world in terms of land prices. The glamorous feel of the street is brought across well by VanHetten.

Oasis is the only place in the desert that ensures survival. In this piece, he musically conveys to us that moment of delight when the desert wanderer sees the oasis. Remarkable the duo between VanHetten and saxophonist Bob Mintzer.

Brother Robert has the special feature that for the first in a long time you can hear the steel pans of Andy Narell in a small but fine solo. On the Samba flavored Djoel & Knippa we are surprised with a fantastic organ solo and VanHetten's outstanding trumpet solo that makes me fall off my feet.

L.A. Jam offers a successful blend of jazz and electronic music, which definitely has a chance of bridging the gaps between the genres. The closing piece Spally could not be more opposite to this.

I have enjoyed Iwan VanHetten's album Parabbean Tales exceptionally well. The tracks performed by excellent musicians of the first guard are throughout entertaining and characterized by relaxed perfectionism.

 

 

 

 


 

Biography

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Album Information

Title: Parabbean Tales
Artist: Iwan VanHetten
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Label:
Blue Canoe Records

1) Parabbean Tales (3:26)
2) Freedom (6:14)
3) Cachete (3:33)
4) Not Without You (5:48)
5) 5th Avenue (5:12)
6) Oasis (5:59)
7) Brother Robert (4:53)
8) Djoel & Knippa (5:31)
9) L.A. Jam (3:36)
10) Spally (1:39)

 

Credits:

Trumpet: Iwan VanHetten
Piano, Keys: Russell Ferrante
Bass: Melvin Lee Davis, Jimmy Haslip (tracks #5,#7)
Drums: Will Kennedy
Percussion: Lenny Castro
Steel Pans: Andy Narell (tracks #7, #8)
Sax: Bob Mintzer (track #6)

Recorded at Castle Oaks Recording Studios, Hollywood,
Los Angeles

Recording Engineer: Rich Breen

Mixing: Iwan VanHetten (at VanHetten Productions, UK)

Mastered: Peter Beckmann (Technology Works,
London, UK)

Photography - Anael Miantsoukina (Paris, France)

Art Design - Aaron Paddock