New Jazz Adds – 2/21/2017
New Jazz Adds – 2/21/2017
John Abercrombie Quartet – Up and Coming (ECM): Here’s another gem from guitarist John Abercrombie and colleagues, featuring five Abercrombie originals, two from pianist Marc Copland and Miles Davis’ “Nardis”. Drew Gress (bass) and Joey Baron (drums) are the rhythm section. The music flows beautifully throughout the disc, at times in a soft mood and later growing into an energetic swirl of harmony. The interplay between Abercrombie and Copland is especially wonderful. This disc must certainly rank with the best of Abercrombie’s amazing catalogue. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Joey DeFrancesco & The People – Project Freedom (Mack Avenue): Organ/keyboard/trumpet player Joey DeFrancesco steps out with one of his best releases to date and the list is a long one. Seven of the eleven tracks are original compositions and his playing is crisp and energetic. On top of that, his arrangement of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” gives the anthem a fervor it truly deserves. DeFrancesco is supported by Dan Wilson (guitar), Jason Brown (drums) and tenor and soprano sax player Troy Roberts, who plays terrifically, including bringing a degree of fire that matches DeFrancesco in the best possible way. B-3 fans will automatically grab on this one. If you’re not so sure, this is a terrific start! Click here and click on “Tracklist” to listen to samples from the songs on this release.
Akua Dixon – Akua’s Dance (Self-produced): Akua Dixon sings, plays cello and baritone violin, and composed six of the ten songs on the disc. She is accompanied by Victor Lewis (drums), Kenny Davis and Ron Carter (bass), and Freddie Bryant and Russell Malone (guitar). The overall feel is somewhat mournful, seemingly based upon Dixon’s instruments and vocal technique. Her history: “After years of lending her skills to recordings by masters such as Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, Buster Williams, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie, Abbey Lincoln, Tom Harrell, and her former husband Steve Turre, Dixon made a bold statement of her own with 1994’s Quartette Indigo (Landmark), a classic album featuring violist Ron Lawrence and violinists Gayle Dixon and John Blake Jr. (reissued by 32 Jazz). Supported by a grant from the NEA, she delivered a brilliant second album in 1997 with Afrika! Afrika! (Savant) with Lawrence, and violinists Regina Carter and Marlene Rice.She spent much of the next decade immersed in education, teaching at various institutions and conducting dozens of performances through the Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series.” (webpage bio) It was at this point that Dixon returned to focus on her jazz connection. I regret I am unable to find a sample from this disc.
Nick Finzer – Hear & Now (Self-produced): Trombonist Nick Finzer offers his fourth disc. He composed eight of the nine titles here and offers Ellington’s “Single Petal Of A Rose” as the lone cover. Finzer’s group includes Lucas Pino (tenor sax, bass clarinet), Alex Wintz (guitar), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Dave Baron (bass) and Jimmy MacBride (drums). The sound is more intimate than is often the case with trombone-led groups, perhaps a major reason that this relatively young performer/composer has gathered so much attention. Certainly, trombone fans must check this recording out. The group plays so well together. Click here to listen to the opening song on this disc.
Sidney Jacobs – First Man (Baby Chubs Records): Vocalist/composer Sidney Jacobs began his career as a gospel singer with the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, but after hearing Al Jarreau, he determined to follow the jazz banner. Like Jarreau, Jacobs has a broad concept of the style and covers standards, such as his wonderful version of “My Favorite Things”, Bill Withers’ “Lonely Town Lonely Street”, and James Taylor’s “Secret O’ Life” as well as his own compositions, seven of which are included on this disc. This disc contains some amazing performances and there’s almost something of everyone who likes jazz vocals, especially mixed with polished soul stylings. Anyone who likes the work of Jarreau and Withers will find something to thoroughly enjoy. Jacobs’ own style is distinctive as well. Instrumental support is provided by Zephyr Avalon (acoustic and electric bass), Efa Etoroma Jr (drums), Michael Jarvey (keys, viola), Josh Johnson (alto sax), Wendell Kelly (trombone), Josh Nelson (piano), Greg Poree (guitar), Cathy Segal-Garcia (backing vocals), Nolan Shaheed (trumpet), Justin Thomas (vibes, marimba) and Francesco Canas (violin). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of three songs on this disc.
Alexis Lombre – Southside Sounds (Self-produced): Pianist Alexis Lombre is a teenage pianist who has studied classical and jazz and has performed in a variety of jazz shows, mostly in the Chicago/Detroit areas. She discovered early on that one can know how to play technically, but without feeling, it isn’t effective. Feeling comes through her playing in a major way. Lombre has excellent technique and much of this disc is bubbling over with feeling. The backing players are Junius Paul, James Wenzel and DeAndre Manning (bass); Greg Artry, Jeremiah Collier and Zack Morrow (drums); and Rajiv Halim, Irvin Pierce, and and Ernest Melton (tenor sax). This sis soul jazz with a wonderful emphasis on “jazz with soul”. I expect we’ll be hearing a lot more from this talented musician. This disc is a great beginning. I regret I can’t find a larger sample of Lombre’s playing, but you’ll get the idea by clicking here.
Ben Markley Big Band – Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton (OA2): “…to hear a big band’s interpretation of Cedar’s music has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in my life!… I know Cedar is beaming at the results!!” (Martha Walton) “Ben has found a way to embrace the music of Cedar Walton and transform it into stellar big band arrangements that express his voice, sound and musical genius.” (Terell Stafford) Stafford should know: he’s the featured soloist throughout this disc. In addition to Stafford, Markley is the pianist and arranger and the band includes Wil Swindler, Scott Turpen, Peter Sommer, Serafin Sanchez, and Sam Williams (saxes); Scott Crump, Paul McKee, Adam Bartczak, and Gary Mayne (trombones); Peter Olstad, Greg Gisbert, John Lake, and Terell Stafford (trumpets); and Steve Kovalcheck (guitar), Ken Walker (bass), and Chris Smith (drums). Click here for a brief review of the music on this disc.
The Reunion Project – Varanda (Self-produced): “If ever there was a gathering that’s true to name and a misnomer, this is it. The Reunion Project isn’t a glimpse at a band reformation or a grand comeback statement, but rather an expression of shared experiences, influences, and actions. It’s both a look back to earlier times and the dawn of a new adventure…..this crew creates a highly evolved statement that points to its place of origin while tilting Brazilian jazz on its axis.” (All About Jazz, Dan Bilawski) The Brazilian musicians on the recording are Felipe Salles (tenor, soprano sax, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Chico Pinheiro (guitar); Tiago Costa (piano); Bruno Migrotto (bass) and Edu Ribeiro (drums). All but one of the songs are originals by group members. Though typically have the feel of Brazilian jazz, the music and performances are fresh. The interplay of the performers is both subtle and spectacular, reminiscent of classic Brazilian jazz and independently hip. Click here to listen to the title tune.
David Singley – Good Hope (WrenSing): Veteran guitarist David Singley has performed in numerous settings with such performers as Perry Como, Debbie Gibson, Gene Pitney, Mary Wells, Debbie Reynolds, and Shari Lewis & Lambchop, among others. He has worked in the orchestra pit of many a touring Broadway musical including, most notably, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond. Singley is the Lecturer of Music at Carleton College in Northfield, MN where he teaches Jazz Guitar and Jazz Improvisation and also directs the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos. This is his second release as the headliner. He composed four of the eight selections here. There is a variety of styles on offer here, including Singley on acoustic and electric guitars in settings ranging from quartets to working with a stage orchestra. On the smaller group tracks Singley is accompanied by David Milne or Pete Whitman (tenor sax), Michael O’Brien (bass), and Craig Hara (drums, percussion, synthesizers) or Peter Johnson (drums) with Lee Blaske (Hammond organ, keyboard bass) among others. There is a nice variety of material here. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on the disc.
Ralph Towner – My Foolish Heart (ECM): This new release by Ralph Towner is a solo effort on eleven originals and the classic “My Foolish Heart”, the classic composed by Victor Young and Ned Washington which Towner describes as a key influence on his art as expressed by classical guitar. The disc itself is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Towner: expert technique and a beautiful performance. Click here for a live version of “My Foolish Heart”.
Ugly Beauties – Strange Attractors (Self-produced): This appears to be the second release by Ugly Beauties, a trio firmly planted on the fringe. The group features Marilyn Lerner (piano), Matt Brubeck (cello) and Nick Fraser (drums) and presents ten new original compositions. The performance passes through jauntily timed numbers, sonic side trips that dash from harmony to cacophony and back again. Intriguing, sometimes delightful, and sometimes quite challenging. Click here to listen to the title track.
Colin Vallon Trio – Danse (ECM): Pianist Colin Vallon’s current disc seems to insinuate itself on the listeners rather than show them the way. There is interplay between Vallon’s left and right hands and between the piano and bass (Patrice Moret), while drummer Julian Sartorius mostly plays accents whole providing the rhythmic bottom. While the quiet approach can certainly draw the listener in, there’s almost a tension that leaves the listener waiting for some resolution and simultaneously capturing the ear. It is a unique presentation. Click here to listen to the opening song.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
