Victor Feldman – The Artful Dodger

Victor Feldman had first recorded as a leader when he was 13 and a swing-based drummer. In 1957, he moved from his native London to the United States, and by early 1958 (when he was 23) was in great demand as a pianist and vibraphonist. For his second American release and debut for the Contemporary label, Feldman is completely in the spotlight. Joined by the brilliant bassist Scott La Faro (whose playing is a strong reason to acquire the album) and drummer Stan Levey, Feldman performs a mostly boppish set including "Serpent's Tooth," "There Is No Greater Love," Dizzy Gillespie's "Bebop," a Chopin waltz and three of his diverse originals. An excellent showcase for the still-developing Victor Feldman.

For his second American release and debut for the Contemporary label, Feldman is completely in the spotlight. Joined by the brilliant bassist Scott La Faro (whose playing is a strong reason to acquire the album) and drummer Stan Levey, Feldman performs a mostly boppish set ". On All About Jazz Samuel Chell observed "Feldman's piano is not as developed as his vibes work at this early stage in his career, so there's lots of space (and solo room) for LaFaro's majestic sound and unstoppable drive. In fact, it's probably no exaggeration to say the date is as much LaFaro's as Feldman's. The latter makes a favorable impression; but the former puts on a clinic. Not to be missed by any acoustic bassist or admirer

Artful Dodger is a classic example of a great band who arrived at the wrong time - in this case, they were caught in the mid-'70s crossroads, between the power pop of the Raspberries and the crunching rock of Cheap Trick, whose producer Jack Douglas helmed Artful Dodger's debut as well as Honor Among Thieves, their excellent second album. Sonically, Artful Dodger falls between the Raspberries and Cheap Trick - they have guitars and jangle and melodies that evoke the Beatles - but to call them pop almost seems dismissive, to ignore that Honor Among Thieves is a heavy rock & roll record, an album where the power chords outweigh the power pop…

Victor Feldman's one Riverside date as a leader (which has been reissued on CD) features him playing piano on five songs and vibes on four others (three of which add Hank Jones on piano). Joined by bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes (both of whom were at the time, with Feldman, the rhythm section of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet), Feldman is in excellent form on a straight-ahead set. The trio/quartet performs five standards that for the most part are not overly familiar, plus four of the leader's originals. Tasteful and swinging music.