Harry Skoler - Reviews
Throughout A Work of Heart clarinetist Harry Skoler displays an intimate, chamber swing sensibility that sings above a finely meshed group of musicians. Skoler is not interested in pyrotechnics; he is interested in the emotional nuances of ten carefully chosen compositions... Donn Trenner has arranged strings tastefully and affectively. He is also the pianist throughout whose solos and sensitive accompaniment to Skoler contribute significantly to the success of this recording. The guitarists, Garrison Fewell and Joe Lano, are notable for their concise, thoughtful solos often displaying impressive technique and swing.
Harry Skoler plays with a melancholy but hopeful tone that adds a poignancy... His clarinet sound has a deep, rich quality that is especially affective in the slower and medium tempo tracks. A Work of Heart is a meticulously thought through and executed recording. If you're a jazz fan who usually starts looking for the door when jazz strings are mentioned this recording might be the one to turn your head around.
- Mike Neely
All About Jazz . . . www.allaboutjazz.com
Harry Skoler is a clarinetist who employs this difficult instrument with a gentle and loving touch. The Berklee professor evokes little of Benny Goodman, except for comparable agility and skill. Skoler's sound is elegantly supple and played mostly in a lush lower-register. The 10 tracks are performed in different musical combinations, adding vibraphonist Rich Margolis on two. But the main collaboration is Skoler and pianist-arranger-producer Donn Trenner, whose lineage ranges from Charlie Parker and Chet Baker to Lena Horne and Mel Torme. Their interplay is stunningly psychic, and their duets on "Don't Ever Go Away" and "Soliloquy" are absolutely exquisite.
This is a diverse production, with the addition of eight string instruments and a French horn creating a luxuriance of sound that complements guitarist Garrison Fewell (Joe Lano on two tracks). Three Latin charts spice the lineup, and there are two tributes to the late Bill Evans: his own "Your Story" and a Skoler-Trenner creation of "Goodbye Mr. Evans." A remarkable album that will stay in my current rotation.
- Patricia Myers
JAZZTIMES April 2000
Harry Skoler's two previous Brownstone albums attested to his fondness for premodernist clarinet traditions, the joy he found in using his well-managed and disciplined reed instrument to "converse" and "reflect" on swinging verities. For his latest studio album, the Berklee instructor takes a different tack and employs strings and a French horn as a backdrop to the winsome, gentle side of the clarinet and to the equally endearing piano stylings of new friend Donn Trenner, the session's producer.
At first listen, Skoler seems to have succumbed to a bleeding heart. Stick with him though, and he'll likely win you over. On Jobim's "Don't Ever Go Away," the richness of his tone, somewhere between romance and melancholia, draws you into the music. The cheery assurance of his melodic variations in Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" attracts, too. "Soliloquy," composed by Skoler and Trenner, sees him achieving lyricism with the exquisite clarity of his sound and the fluidness of his phrases. His playing on seven more songs, including a close study of Bill Evans' "Your Story," also rides an attractively relaxed level of expression that usually eschews mawkishness. Trenner, in years past an accompanist to Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and assorted pop notables, has the warm and sensitive touch needed to complement the clarinetist. He and Skoler go the duet route pleasingly on the Jobim piece and on "Soliloquy."
Guitarists Garrison Fewell and Joe Lano heighten the sense of quiet drama at the core of the session. Fewell is modest, expert and elegant, responding to the clarinetist especially well on "Portrait Of Daniel," another Skoler and Trenner composition. Lano makes a good impression playing on the south-of-the-border "Coisa Feita" and "Sophisticated Yenta," a second warm breeze with Skoler. Not least, the modest, intelligent charts from Trenner or Lano are handled deftly by eight sting players and a French horn player, Las Vegas-based hired guns who give the impression they actually care about quality mainstream jazz.
- Frank-John Hadley
Downbeat June 2000
. . . "everything works"
...when Harry Skoler whispers, you listen. ...Good title - this album has heart, and it works. ...Harry waxes sincere...Some rust creeps in, and it fits - you can tell the anguish he's in. But even in pain his beauty shines through, and his emotion is wonderfully big. Love is like that. ...Trenner is lush, and Skoler most tender. ...Harry's licks are emotional, and rest easy on the ears. ...The strings kiss your cheek... ...a fine album: if you like your music tender and have a thing for strings, you'll take this to heart.
- John Barrett, Jr.
Jazz Improv Magazine
"...this reviewer was bowled over by his purity of tone and innovative improvisation. Where has this man been all these years?"
-David Miller Swingin' Down the Lane
"Truly excellent clarinetists know how to make the instrument sound sexy;
Harry Skoler is definitely one of them...Skoler lays back, letting his
clarinet seduce with purring trills that stretch the limits of human hearing.
On 'Benny', ...Skoler plays a duet with vibraphonist Ed Saindon, showcasing
his ability to pull the listener in with his sound. Here he doesn't showboat
or barnstorm...the interplay between him and Saindon reveals something more
cerebral and textural, like he was really playing it for Goodman. It's
heartfelt and enjoyable..."
- Michael Bieber Jazziz
"Harry Skoler's new CD is a thoughtful, intelligent, and loving bow to Benny
Goodman and to his influence on all Jazz...It's a daunting task to play so
many pieces of music that are emotionally connected to another
instrumentalist and still make fresh and individual statements. Skoler has
risen to the challenge and stayed true to Benny Goodman's spirit. He has
also taken those same tunes and shown how strong both he and the songs really
are...Reflections on the Art of Swing captures the feeling and energy of
those days while remaining firmly based on today. It offers a new vehicle in
a vintage spirit. I'm sure Benny Goodman is smiling somewhere. I knew Harry
Skoler when we both attended Berklee College of Music in the late seventies.
He has continued along a singular path of musical integrity that was evident
almost twenty years ago. I am very glad to see his talent in such a
showcase."
- Stan Bann Jazz Now
"...this is a labor of love. And though Goodman's spirit peaks out from
behind the phrases, it's clear that Skoler is his own man. Whether a
roller-coaster ride through 'Handful of Keys' or a meditation on 'Rose Room',
Skoler speaks confidently with a poignantly transparent and vibrant sound."
- Chuck Berg JazzTimes
"There's nothing new about Benny Goodman small-group tributes. What's new
about this one is how little the clarinetist, though working with familiar
repertoire in a Swing framework, actually tries to sound like Benny. Harry
Skoler has a discernibly more modern timbre than anyone from Benny's
generation. Yet he never falls into the clinical-clarinetisms that
occasionally afflicted even such luminaries as Buddy DeFranco. Strongly
recommended."
- Robert L. Campbell Cadence
"This is an album which should appeal to those who dig swing classics played
with a fresh approach."
- Joanne Day Jersey Jazz
"Skoler's quartet is tight...and has a strong sound grounded in the harmonic
interplay between Skoler and vibraphonist Ed Saindon. Their romping
arrangement of 'Flying Home' is stunning."
- Ken Franckling UPI
"...Skoler plays flawlessly throughout...His beautifully contoured,
well-modulated soft tone, his trills and tremolos, his fluency over the
instrument's vast terrain are all worthy of commendation..."
- Jack Sohmer Mississippi Rag
"Clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Harry Skoler, splendidly assisted by a
world-class rhythm team, proves that he has somehow acquired the musical
sensibilities of an earlier era on his Reflections on the Art of Swing: A
Tribute to Benny Goodman."
- W. Royal Stokes author, Swing Era New York:
The Jazz Photographs of Charles Peterson and The Jazz Scene: An Informal History from New Orleans to 1990
"... a worthy tribute to the great master...Benny would have been proud..."
"...absolutely gripping, taking the listener by the hand and heart through a
caressing tribute to a great man and musician....the quartet deserve and
reward dedicated attention. This is real music and it's great music."
- Matt "Rocky" Robinson Northeast Performer
"The disc, Reflections on the Art of Swing, swings but also soothes, with
Skoler and his cohorts displaying a high degree of musical empathy ."
- Mark Cadigan Worcester Magazine
"While the spirit of the great band leader is never far from Skoler's
clarinet playing, it's the chemistry between the band, vibraphonist Ed
Saindon, bassist Roger Kimball, and drummer Tim Gilmore, that makes the disc
one of the most enjoyable of the year."
- Brian Goslow The Worcester Phoenix
"Skoler is a skilled reedman...the group...has its own distinctive sound,
reflecting the arranging skills of all four members."
- Don Farwell Tailgate Ramblings
"...Harry Skoler shows his mastery of the clarinet on Reflections..."
- Andy Smith The Providence Journal
"...good versions of Goodman...'Flying Home' is particularly strong ..."
- Bob Karlovits Tribune Review
Radio: #2 Most Added, breaks Gavin jazz chart for second year in a row (#42)
with airplay on over 220 stations!
"Refreshing 'new,' old sound"
- Bob Parzych WRTC
"I like this record a lot - just as good as the last one...Nice arrangements
and lots of style."
- Jeff Holtz WIUM/WIUW-FM
"Damn fine!"
- Seth M. KIPO
"Good reflection of Benny."
- Jessica Thomas KKFI
"Wonderful recording."
- Catherine M. Gollers KGNU
"Nice traditional sound."
- Bob Powell West Virginia Public Radio
"I love Harry's music and can't wait to have him in the studio for an
interview!"
- Julia Figueras New Hampshire Public Radio
"Looking forward to getting Harry back on the show soon. I hope I can help
you get him booked out here in the mid-west."
- Leigh Kamman Minnesota Public Radio
"He plays a fantastic clarinet and has a fine quartet"
- Egon Staniok Radio Jazz, Denmark
TV: Performance video from Boston's Gail Harris show featured on Jazz
Discovery (BET Television)
"When Harry Skoler plays you can hear him smiling. He infuses Benny
Goodman's music with his own unique sound and energy. Benny must be smiling,
too."
- Toni Ballard producer/host Studio 3, WGNC-TV3
"Harry offers up another outstanding album, and a fitting tribute to the
master, Benny Goodman."
- Marc Lemay Local Music Showcase
"This new compact disk by clarinetist Harry Skoler is quite unique . . . In this age of fusion and MIDI, Skoler's clarinet finds home base on each of these tracks. His Interpretations and solos take the listener back to the heart of jazz . . . Anchored by Kimball's and Gilmore's solid playing, Skoler and Saindon have produced an excellent CD."
- Mark Ford Percussive Arts Society
"Skoler has a cool sound on clarinet...Ed Saindon blends well with Skoler
while Kimball and Gilmore are fine in support. The result is a likable and
quiet group sound... the performances are consistently tasteful."
- Scott Yanow The Mississippi Rag
"Fortunately, there are still some artists out there who combine an
understanding of the roots of jazz with musical talent to match. One such is
clarinetist Harry Skoler. In "Conversations" Skoler puts it all together with
meticulous rendering of classics... while the others (Saindon, Kimball and
Gilmore) do accompany Skoler's solo work, they also stand out as truly
talented individuals, creating a musical consensus. This recording is a
conversation among four musicians whose instruments speak for them."
- Tom Hall Portsmouth Herald
"Skoler displays a mastery of his instrument and a sweet, laid back attack.
Contributing to this refined atmosphere is vibist Ed Saindon, who complements
Skoler beautifully, most notably in the interplay on the extended title track
original. If you enjoy delicate and sweet music, this disk should rate high."
- Sid Gribetz JazzTimes
"...the sound is sweet, melodic, and solidly swinging. The interplay between clarinetist
Harry Skoler and vibist Ed Saindon is intricate and playful anchored by the solid rhythm
section of Roger Kimball on bass and Tim Gilmore on drums."
- J.C. Lockwood
"This gently swinging set is easily enjoyable. It is to Skoler's credit that, even on the
Benny Goodman associated material, his own musical personality shines through. There is no
question that Harry Skoler is his own man."
- Scott Yanow L.A. Jazz Scene
"Skoler is a player on the move, he's ready and armed. A good collection of tracks,
Conversations... should definitively bring a wind of opportunities to this artist."
- Dante Ferrarini New England Performer
"While the rest of the jazz world seemingly runs toward the crossover line with alto saxes
armed and ready for the next commercial oodles of noodles fest, clarinetist Harry Skoler
stands as a breed apart. A perfect cabin fever album... Conversations is imbued with a kind
of restraint that has a laid back charm all its own that's very, very listenable. File under
cool."
- Cub Koda CD Review
"The conversations between soloists are the heart of this disc. There is real interaction
between the musicians, not just everyone reciting his part and soloing when the time comes."
- Robert Tate Jazz Now
"Who is Harry Skoler, and why is he making such beautiful sounds on the clarinet? Mr. Skoler
possesses great tonal beauty. There is a definite 'chamber jazz' feel at work here.
'Refined', 'sophisticated', and 'gently swinging' are other words that spring to mind. The
title track ably demonstrates the levels of sophistication and intimacy that can be
attained
in a quartet setting like this. Discriminating music lovers, I urge you to make room in your
collections for the effort of Messieurs Skoler and Saindon."
- J.0. Spaak WWUH Jazz Radio News