Hendrik Meurkens Manhattan Samba

Hendrik Meurkens
Manhattan Samba
Height Advantage

The harmonica wizard Hendrik Meurkens has undoubtedly displayed the skills that have some to label him as the successor to Toots Thielemans, He is best known for his efforts in Brazilian jazz, and that is what is featured on this his release. Hendrik describes this release, "'Manhattan Samba' is a samba jazz journey that introduces some new compositions of mine, revisits a few trusted older ones and features songs by the Brazilian masters Ivan Lins, Toninho Horta and of course Mestre Tom Jobim. The band consists of the fantastic Helio Alves on piano; two great bass players, Gustavo Amarante and Fernando Huergo; and on drums the legendary Portinho, who is one of the founding fathers of samba jazz drumming in the US."

"Manhattan Samba" is a marvelous recording of Meurkens harmonica playing backed by his first-rate band. The album opens with the breezy "Clear of Clouds," with Meurkens horn-like phrasing flying over the clean, crisp Brazilian tempo. More of the same lively samba groove follows on the exhilarating title track. As a composer, Meurkens writes  very memorable melodies, such as the enchanting "One For Manfredo." In addition to the leader's adept harmonica, pianist Alves scintillates. Equally infectious is "Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)," on which Portinho dazzles with his cymbal work in support of sterling solos by Alves and Meurkens. The exchanges between them are hypnotic. Huergo is the bassist on the lovely interpretation of the Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins composition "Dona Palmeira." Another lovely selection is the wistful rendition of "Bonita" from Jobim, Gilbert and Lees.

Meurkens' latest is a joy for lovers of jazz harmonica and Brazilian jazz. With an outstanding band and a strong musical program, "Manhattan Samba" is a musical delicacy well worth sampling.

I received a download to review from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the January-February 2021 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 394). I have made a couple minor edits and corrections. Here is Hendrik Meurkens performing "Bonita."

Hendrik Meurkens Harmonicus Rex

Hendrik Meurkens
Harmonicus Rex
Height Advantage

The remarkable jazz harmonica wizard, Hendrik Meurkens, may be best known for his magic in the realm of Brazilian jazz, but on his latest release, "Harmonicus Rex," his focus is on straight ahead jazz. On this session he is joined by the legendary Jimmy Cobb on drums, along with bassist Marco Panascia and pianist Dado Moroni. Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and Anders Bostrom on alto flute are each heard on four of the eleven tracks (one on which they both are heard). The program on this release are five originals as well as six interpretations of standards.

Meurkens' "Mundell's Mood" is a bright, swinging number that opens this with the leader and Magnarelli stating the theme before the trumpeter takes the first solo before Meurkens takes the first of his solos on his chromatic harmonica with his melodic invention and horn like phrasing (if not tone) at the fore before a break from Moroni with Magnarelli and the leader trading fours prior to the coda. Its the beginning of a delightful, and wide-ranging, recording with the rhythm section exemplary throughout. The groove of Meurkens' "Slidin'" has Meurkens sounding a bit more wistful at first before he solos vigorously followed by Bostrom's lovely flute.

Moroni rumbles a bit to set the mood for a lovely quartet rendition of Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way." Then there is a lovely, bluesy original ballad performance, "Afternoon" with Magnarelli on flugelhorn contributing to the mood that Meurkens' engenders here. Both Magnarelli and Bostrom are present for the lively rendition of Milt Jackson's blues, "SKJ," while Meurkens' fluidity, melodic playing and invention is showcased on the Rodgers-Hart classic "Falling in Love With Love," with Moroni and Panascia also showcased. "A Summer in San Francisco" is a lovely, lazy original that features Bostrom while Magnarelli adds his bright tone to a relaxed, rendition of Freddie Hubbard's "Up Jumped Spring."

The album closes with marvelous quartet performances of the standards "Darn That Dream" and "What's New." And one cannot emphasize how exceptional the rhythm section is throughout nearly one hour of delightful, straight-ahead jazz on "Harmonicus Rex."
I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 366). Here Hendrik Meurkens performs "Darn That Dream."