BOOM BANG, BOOM BANG!

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A conversation between Steve Gadd & Larry Goldings about "Boom Bang, Boom Bang!"

 L.G. Charles is such a deep swinger! It seems that he, even in his mid-teens, was an amazing talent, and always had such respect for, and knowledge about the straight-ahead jazz tradition.  

 S.G. I love the way he plays everything, but his straight-ahead kills me. I can really hear the influence of his dad, Vinnie Ruggiero, and I say that because Vinnie loved Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Elvin, Tony Williams -- and I can hear those guys in Charles.   

L.G. I go pretty far back with Charles, but you go even farther, right?   

S.G. I first heard Charles when he was playing with Chuck Mangione - in fact we did the gig together. He really impressed me then, and that was quite a few years ago. And from being on the same bandstand with him, I know that he can do pretty much whatever he wants to do, and does it all so well.  

L.G. This is a great band - with in instrumentation that's not often heard. Jeremy Manasia really sounds like he has spent time with the Rhodes piano...it's not something any piano player can just automatically play well. And he blends so well with Ian on flute, who I've always thought was great. This instrumentation, by the way, may be a bit of a nod to the classic quartet you had with Chick Corea, Joe Farrell and Eddie Gomez?   

S.G. Well, they play "The One Step" from Friends, and I love this version. This sounds like a band that really enjoys playing together, and I would guess they have played a lot over the years, because you can hear a strong commitment there. I would love to hear this band live....I can only imagine that they take it to another level. 

L.G. It's very flattering to hear this group play Peter Bernstein's "Little Green Men," a tune Charles knew from my organ trio with Peter and Bill Stewart. Hearing it with this instrumentation gives it a whole new twist. I also love the group's take on "I'm A Broken Heart" by the pop duo, The Bird and the Bee. The original version has an almost Beach Boys flavor, but here the band makes it sound like a jazz standard. The singer, Hilary Gardner, sounds great. Had you heard this song before?   

S.G. No, I thought it was an original -- It's a great song, and I love the singer.  

 L.G. "Liftoff" shows the ease in which Charles, and the whole group, can pull off a brisk tempo....So many players get heavy handed and edgy with a fast tempo, but here Barak and Charles make it sound so easy, allowing the others to still play thoughtfully and melodically.   

S.G. That's right....and that's the real shit. The album has a real sense of honest musicianship. These are guys that love playing together and are being true to what's in their heart and souls.