Three Days of Rain

Three Days of Rain

Bob Belden's orchestral album Black Dahlia was a cinematic work in search of a film. The songs on Three Days of Rain were written for a recent movie of that name starring Peter Falk but have the feel of a classic jazz session. In both cases, there is plenty of atmosphere to absorb, with lyrical commentary from standout soloists including tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Marc Copland. Inspired by the stories of Chekhov, Three Days of Rain tells the stories of a half-dozen contemporary characters struggling to get by in Cleveland. The music ranges from rainy-day pieces with a bluesy Miles Davis feel (Scott Wendholt is featured on trumpet) to soulfully swinging hard bop tunes featuring Ronnie Jordan or Al Street on guitar. It's a reflection of Belden's skills as a composer that the music hangs together even though two different rhythm sections are employed (pianist Kevin Hays' alternates with Copland's) and that, though the songs will gain in meaning from a viewing of the film, the album stands alone perfectly well. Two unaccompanied performances are noteworthy: Lovano's modernistic clarinet musings on "Panic" and Jason Moran's elegant, expansive piano solo to close this aural production. --Lloyd Sachs

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