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Perhaps for the sake of gaining a toehold in contemporary jazz with colorful takes on the familiar, veteran bassist Roberto Vally began his streak of popular singles on Woodward Avenue Records with playful re-imaginings of “Birdland” and “The Chicken.” Beyond his formidable and inventive bass artistry, his evolution as a composer/producer over the past few years has been an inspiring revelation. On a thematic level, there’s something even deeper going on now. In a genre where artists often just create infectious radio friendly tunes to uplift the spirits of their fans and listeners, Vally’s been giving us something more over his last few releases – fascinating insights into his personal and professional life. In addition to compelling artwork, Vally’s two releases in 2023 painted unique musical portraits of his passions. “Woody’s Gap” was inspired by a hike he took on the Appalachian Trail with pianist Carol Albert, who he had just played some gigs with. The title came from a sign he saw for a mount ridge gap in North Georgia. On “Last Flight Home,” he shared a glimpse of his whirlwind life as a veteran touring sidemen for countless contemporary jazz greats. The cover of the single showed him walking towards a small plane at sunset – an ongoing reality for those musicians who live their dreams while contributing to the sound and energy of others living theirs. |
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The plucky soul, snappy funk groove and exuberant rolling energy of Vally’s latest instantly engaging new single “D Train Express” takes us back to another special time in his life, his early years growing up in Brooklyn – where taking NYC’s “D Train” was a core part of the urban experience. As the song builds cool, easy flowing momentum towards its explosive hook (twice), we can experience it as a soundtrack to a long ride on the tracks – sometimes easing along slowly, then picking up speed to get us to our destination faster. Like being on the train, the musical ride is full of fascinating dynamics, ebbs and flows. After a chill intro driven by Mark Etheredge’s keyboard sparkles (getting on board), Vally draws us into his irrepressible groove, his catchy, seductive and easygoing low toned melody riding over the tight funkiness of Gorden Campbell’s drums. Matching the first gentle, then more intense clackety clack of the train leaving the station, Etheredge’s brighter high notes form a colorful duality with Vally’s darker tones. As the ride picks up speed, Andrew Neu’s always welcome sax magic, combined with the sizzling Vally-Etheredge fire, kicks us into a whole new dimension, complete with subtle rising horns (dynamically arranged by Neu) as we prepare for the train to soar through (and/or below) the city. Full of sax, bass and keyboard fury, with the added dazzle of Vally’s wordless vocals (like chatter among the passengers), the aforementioned hook is fun, lighthearted and exciting, more along the lines of an enjoyable day trip than the hustle and bustle of rush hour. After a quick, whimsical bass fill, the steady groove and main bass melody return for a short spell before Neu pops in again, doubling mightily with the bass to create a different dynamic than Vally had with Etheredge on the first iteration of the verse part. The second hook is an even greater jam than the first, as if we can imagine the passengers up dancing and forgetting just how fast the train is going. Then things slow down (imagine coasting to a stop to let passengers off) with some echoing synth effects, a few piano chords and a dreamy touch or two from Neu. Etheredge then gets his moment to shine with a spirited piano solo before the chorus kicks in once again. Just to make sure listeners are paying attention before the train reaches its final destination, Vally elevates his vocal presence by showcasing his scatting expertise. In four and a half minutes, the bassist takes us on a rousing, multi-faceted journey through his beloved hometown that none of us listener/passengers will soon forget! |
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D Train Express Roberto Vally – Bass & Percussion |
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