New Jazz Adds – 3/13/2017

New Jazz Adds – 3/13/2017

Claire Daly – 2648 West GrandBoulevard: Jazz Interpretations of Classic Motown 45s (Glass Beach Jazz): Veteran baritone saxophonist Claire Daly leads her group through jazz interpretations of Motown hits ranging from “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” to “Cloud Nine” and lots of Smokey Robinson compositions like “I Second That Emotion” and “Ain’t That Peculiar”. Daly also plays especially nice flute on two songs. Supporting musicians include Mary Ann McSweeney (bass), Peter Grant (drums), Steve Hudson (piano) and some specially nice guitar work by Jerome Harris. Overall, this disc, Daly’s tenth as a leader, is a pleasant excursion. I regret that I am unable to find a sample from this disc.

Heads Of State – Four In One (Smoke Sessions): This is a delightful disc from a group of veteran jazz stars honoring great compositions from the past, including selections from Monk (“Four In One”), Wayne Shorter (“Dance Cadavorous”), Charlie Parker (“Moose The Mooche”), and more. The group is Gary Bartz (sax), Larry Willis (piano), David Williams (bass) and Al Foster (drums), each of whom contributed a composition to the project. The playing is terrific in every sense: it swings, swoons, and jumps for joy! This is the second recording by this group and Smoke Sessions hopes for more. For now, this is an immediate treasure sent our way by these jazz giants. Click here to listen to samples from this disc.  

Stockton Helbing – Swimming In Place (Self-produced): This new release from drummer/composer/educator Stockton Helbing, his seventh, is full of life and joy. He composed all of the music on offer and it is simply bubbling over with joy and groove. The interplay in this ensemble is terrific. The players are David Lown (tenor sax), Noel Johnston (guitar), Josh Hanlon (piano) and James Driscoll (bass) and their new post bop is insists that you become involved with the sound and the groove. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Howard Johnson & Gravity – Testimony (Tuscarora): Howard Johnson is a veteran and considered by some to be the “figure most responsible for the tuba’s current status as a full-fledged jazz voice” (liner notes – Elzy Kolb). Perhaps, Johnson’s most famous recordings were those he made for Taj Mahal’s “The Real Thing”. He is both a stellar player (tuba, bari sax) and a composer. He circles the wagons on this disc gathering support from Dave Bargeron, Earl McIntire and Bob Stewart (tuba), Nedra Johnson and Velvet Brown (voice), and Carlton Holmes (piano). The tunes includes a few compositions by Howard Johnson, a couple by McCoy Tyler, and one by Carole King. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.    

Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge – Mount Royal (Free Dirt): This is Lage and Eldridge’s second recording for this label and like many of today’s merged genres it seems mostly to be a folk style that allows improvisation and borrowing other stylistic approaches. That being said, this disc may well not strictly qualify as jazz, but that doesn’t mean it’s not quality music. Both players play flat-top steel-string acoustic Martin guitars. Eldridge sings on three cuts. Jazz or not, this is an intriguing and pleasant disc throughout. Click here and scroll down to listen to a sample song from this disc.   

Doug Munro & La Pompe Attack – The Harry Warren Songbook (Got Music): Guitarist Doug Monro offers a tribute to his great uncle, composer Harry Warren who wrote many songs for movies in the 30’s and 40’s, including co-writing 14 of the songs on this disc. Monro added two of his own compositions and plays guitar throughout. Additional musicians are Howard Alden, Vinny Raniolo, Vic Juris, Ernesto Pugliese and Ted Gottsegen (sharing guitar duties); Matt Dwonszyk and Michael Goetz sharing bass; and Andrei Matorin and Howie Bujese (violin). Monro also acknowledges that he loves Django Reinhardt which accounts for the multiple guitars and the swing style. This is a lovely tribute and and a bright sound. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.    

Organissimo – B3TLES: A Soulful Tribute To The Fab Four (Big O): “Organissimo” features organ/keyboard player Jim Alfredson, guitarist Lawrence Barris and drummer Randy Marsh covering twelve Beatles’ compositions ranging from “Dear Prudence”, “The Long And Winding Road” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” to less often covered songs like “Dig A Pony”, “Taxman” and “Within You Without You”. There are some intriguing covers that truly reinterpret the melodies and others are more straightforward. Organ fans, check this out. Click here to listen to samples from this disc.   

Marc Ribot – The Young Philadelphians – Live In Tokyo (Yellowbird): Here’s a focus I hadn’t expected from bizarro guitarist Marc Ribot – a tribute to the uptown soul of the 70s! Of course, he has his own take on these songs, but it’s surprisingly straight-forward. The material includes songs from The Trammps, Teddy Pendergrass, Silver Connection, MFSB, The Ohio Players, People’s Choice and Van McCoy. The players include Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bass), G. Calvin Weston (drums) and Mary Halvorson (guitar) with with guests Takako Siba (viola), Yoshie Kajiwara (violin) and China Azuma (cello) just when they’re needed. The disc opens with The Trammps’ “Love Epidemic” and if you weren’t sure about the players, you’d likely guess Lou Reid had left a tape behind for later discovery. The core group is listed as the “Young Philadelphians” and this is a respectful, if sometimes outside, interpretation of the material. There are numerous references to Ornette Coleman’s punk-funk. I’m looking for my platform shoes! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Kurt Rosenwinkel – Caipi (RazDaz): Multi-instrumentalist Kurt Rosenwinkel has played with a range of players including Brad Mehldau, Brian Blade, Mark Turner, Joshua Redman, and Chris Potter; and esteemed jazz elders like Joe Henderson, Paul Motian and Gary Burton. While first and foremost a guitarist, Rosenwinkel also plays bass, piano, drums, synth and sings. He composed all of the songs on this disc, with the exception of three songs whose lyrics were composed by Amanda Brecker and Antonio Loureiro. Other musicians include Pedro Martins (vocals, drums, keys), Fredericka Krier (violin), And Haberl (drums), Antonio  Loureiero, Amanda Brecker and Zola Mennenoh (vocals), Alex Kozmidi (baritone guitar), Kyra Garey (vocals), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Eric Clapton (guitar), and Chris Komer (french horn). The outcome is fusion jazz with a touch of Latin influence. Click here to listen to two songs from this disc.   

Manuel Valera Trio – The Seasons (Mavo): Pianist Manuel Valera leads his trio through seven original compositions and four covers. Valera is accompanied by bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer E.J. Strickland. The trio has performed together for several years. Valera’s piano playing is quite skilled and often stunningly beautiful. The group can be quite rhythmic as well and the trio has terrific flow together. I regret I am unable to find a sample of the music on this disc.

Julian & Roman Wasserfuhr – Landed In Brooklyn (ACT): Brothers Julian and Roman Wasserfuhr lead their band through seven original compositions and two covers. Julian (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Roman (piano, marimba, seaboard) are accompanied by Donny McCaslin (tenor sax), Tim Lefebvre (bass) and Nate Woods (drums) on their first recording in New York. The flow and communication among the players is terrific and one would expect they had played together for a long time. This is basically mainstream jazz and it is very melodic and flowing. Donny McCaslin blows some tough solos, especially on “Tinderly”. This is the Wasserfuhr’s six release altogether. A mellow burn with smooth flow. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples from this disc.   

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop

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