New Jazz Adds – 5/24/2017

New Jazz Adds – 5/24/2017

Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty) – Parking Lot Symphony (Blue Note): Trombone Shorty continues his exploration to blend NOLA brass with soul music for the current day. He started out by fully demonstrating the power of trombone and has now added his soulful vocals to this new hybrid style. There are elements of several styles, plus NOLA funk and the smoother style of soul. It is a unique and an engaging blend. Andrews plays guitar, trombone, trumpet, B3, piano (electric and acoustic), drums, vibes, sings and composed or co-wrote ten of the twelve numbers on offer! The disc also inclues covers of a Meters’ song and one by Allen Toussaint. Backing musicians include Dan Oestreicher (bari sax), BK Jackson (tenor sax), Pete Murano (electric guitar), Tony Hall (bass, electric guitar), Chris Seefired (glockenspiel, mellotron, sitar, piano), Leo Nocentelli (acoustic guitar), Ramon Islas (percussion), Paul Cartwright (viola, violin), Joey Peebles (drums), Juan Covarrubias (synthesizer), Glenn Hall (electric piano) and a six voice chorus on several songs. It may take a couple of listens to get the full sense of this development, but the disc is clearly a significant work. It does have the potential to become a new soul hybrid. Click here to listen to one or more tracks from this disc.   

Roxy Coss – Chasing The Unicorn (Positone): Saxophone / bass clarinet player Roxy Coss shares her third release this time out and it is terrific. Her playing has drive while maintaining terrific melody in this hard swinging program of six originals and covers ranging from Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter to Lennon and McCartney and Willie Nelson. Regardless of the setting, Coss’ own style comes through loud and clear. The band, featuring Glenn Zaleski (piano), Rick Roast (bass), and Jimmy MacBride (drums) is right on it throughout the disc. In addition, special kudos to guitarist Alex Wintz whose playing compliments Coss as if they were completely in sync. This pair of inventive minds and expressive skills is as good as it gets. Click here to listen to the title song.   

Steve Davis – Think Ahead (Smoke Sessions): Veteran trombonist Steve Davis has been a very productive player for his entire career. He studied jazz under Dr. Jackie McLean at the University of Hartford and McLean recommended him to Art Blakey. Davis played with Blakey from 1989 until Blakey’s passing two years later. He then joined the teaching faculty at Hartford. Davis has been noted for his melodic playing and this disc is a wonderful example. The players joining Davis here are Steve Wilson (alto, soprano sax, flute); Jimmy Greene (tenor sax); Larry Willis (piano); Peter Washington (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums). Davis composed seven of the eleven tracks on the disc and melodiousness rules as the group swings through the program on this live in the studio recording. Very nice throughout. I regret I am unable to find a larger sample from this disc. Click here and scroll down to the first video for an all-too-brief sample from this disc.   

Greg Duncan – Unification (New Horizons): Composer/trumpet and flugelhorn player Greg Duncan presents his third release in honor of the thoughts and writings of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. He states that the disc’s title, “Unification”, reflects “…Jung’s idea of individuation…unifying the conscious with the subconscious and finding purpose in life through self-reflection.” (liner notes) In addition to Duncan, the Individuation Quintet’s players are Doug Rosenberg (tenor sax), Ben Lewis (piano), Xavier Breaker (drums) and Joel Kelsey (bass). All but two of these compositions are originals by Duncan, with one composition by former group member Rob Haight and “Say Hey” from the movie “Mo Better Blues” written by Wynton Marsalis. The band plays with spirit and terrific interaction that flows through the entire recording. The interaction between Duncan and Rosenberg is especially noteworthy. Lewis takes some energetic and flowing solos and the trade-offs between Breaker and Lewis are the best call and response I’ve heard in some time! By the way, Duncan is now a resident of Charlottesville, (his wife is a professor of trumpet), so hopefully he will play here some time. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.  

Giacomo Gates – What Time Is It? (Savant): Veteran jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates specializes in vocalese. He has numerous releases to his credit and while he composes a few offerings, he also makes interesting choices of the tunes he covers. He presents three originals on this disc and his covers include Rodgers and Hart’s “I Din’t Know What Time It Was”, two songs from Oscar Brown, Jr., (“Mr. Kicks” and “Somebody Buy Me A Drink”), and even a remake of the late fifties doo wop number “Silhouettes” . His voice shows some wear, but there is still some plenty to enjoy. Back-up musicians include Jerry Weldon (tenor sax), John Di Martino (piano), Tony Lombardozzi (guitar), Lonnie Plaxido (bass), and Vincent Actor (drums). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Sean Jones – Live From The Bistro (Mack Avenue): Trumpeter Sean Jones has a resume big enough to bring on a very large “WOW”! By the time he graduated from college as an undergrad, he decided on becoming a full time musician. He attended Rutgers for his graduate work and was instructed by Wynton Marsalis’ former professor, William Fielder. Following that, he played with numerous headliners, including Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath and Frank Foster. This is his eighth release on Mack Avenue and he brings down the house with his technical and artistic skills. There’s a touch of bop, full-bodied swing, a heap of soul and gospel, and a lot of those “WOW” chops. In addition to Jones’ trumpet and flugelhorn, the players include Orrin Evans (piano), Brain Hogans (alto, soprano sax) and with Obed Calvaire and Mark Whitfield Jr trading off on drums. Jones composed all but three songs: one by Hogans, one by Evans and the traditional “Amazing Grace”. In the last analysis, Jones’ live performance on trumpet is the killer! Click here and scroll down to listen to two of the performances on this disc.   

Diana Krall – Turn Up The Quiet (Verve): Diana Krall’s current release is number fourteen and she has continued to refine her style: her voice has an extra bit of scratch, but her style has adapted wonderfully. She’s sounding bluesier and fully in command. Her piano is fine as well. The material is drawn from the Great American Songbook and includes music by Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer, among others. Additional musicians are Christian McBride, Tony Garnier and John Clayton Jr (bass), Russell Malone, Marc Ribot and Anthony Wilson (guitar), Jeff Hamilton and Karrien Riggins (drums), Stefan Harris (vibes), and Stuart Duncan (violin). This is like a return to her earlier sounds with a few extra miles and it’s really nice. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Ray Mantilla – High Voltage (Savant): Ray Mantilla is an American drummer who has played with numerous jazz and Latin jazz players, including Xavier Cugat, Herbie Mann, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Coryell and Gato Barbieri. Mantilla is the leader and main percussionist on this disc and is supported by Ivan Renta (soprano, tenor sax), Jorge Castro (bari sax, flute), Guido Gonzalez (trumpet, flugelhorn), Edy Martinez (piano, Fender, Rhodes), Cucho Martinez (bass), Diego Lopez (drums) and guests Mike Freeman (vibes) and Maitreya Padukone (tabla). The overall sound is mellow and rather laid back, but very pleasant. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

John McLean – Parts Unknown (Origin): Veteran guitarist John McLean has performed and toured with Mose Allison, Dave Douglas, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Patricia Barber, Randy Brecker, and  Arthur Blythe, among others, and has recorded over half a dozen discs as a leader. This current disc is a partnership between McLean and bassist Clark Sommers that also features Joe Locke (vibes) and Xavier Breaker (drums). All but one song, Mal Waldron’s “All Alone”, are originals: three by McLean and two each by Sommers and Locke. The music is often brisk, but has a soft sound that resembles a spring breeze more than a rushing water fall. Click here to listen to samples of the first two songs on this disc.   

Charnett Moffett – Music From Our Soul (Motema): This disc is, first of all, a marvelous display of the compositional talent and versatility of acoustic and electric bassist Charnett Moffett. Moffett composed twelve of the fourteen songs on offer. The covers are “Mood Indigo” and “So What”. The range of styles is both stunning and a tribute to Moffett’s artistic reach. How else could he have gathered Pharaoh Sanders (tenor sax on 3 selections); Stanley Jordan (guitar on 7 selections and keys on 3 selections); Cyrus Chestnut (piano, keys on 5 selections); and Jeff Tain Watts (drums on 8m selections) with Victor Lewis and Mike Clark (taking the seat for the remaining 4)? The range is wonderful: some beautifully melodic and others a step outside. This is a terrific offering of jazz surrounding your rhythm and head. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Nicholas Payton – Afro-Caribbean Mixtape (Paytone): This double disc is Payton’s celebration of Afro-Caribbean jazz. He honors the hybrid musical styles from the earlier styles to funkier styles that recall Miles’ later street jazz and funk. All but two of the songs were composed or co-composed by Payton, who plays trumpet, Fender Rhodes, bass, electric piano, drums, and synthesizers. He also adds vocals on a number of songs. Just as Payton shifts his instruments to create a variety of presentations and songs, he also changes the combination of musicians on this set. The performers include Kevin Hays (Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, piano); Vicente Archer and Grayson Brockamp (bass); Joe Dyson (drums); Daniel Sadownick (percussion); DJ Lady Fingaz (turntable, sampler); Blake Leyh (cello, sound effects, samples); Weedie Braimah (percussion); Gabriel Platica and Eva Liebhaber (violin); Bruce Owen (viola); Phillip von Maltzahn (cello); Dr. Greg Kimathi Carr, Dr. Charshee McIntyre, Marti Chitwood, Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal and Nicole Sweeney (voices). He also includes samples of statements about jazz by Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington. The totality is a collage of the sounds and thoughts about the music and the great artists who create it. It flows through the air and your heart, body and brain. It is hip. Click here to listen to the song “Jazz Is A Four-Letter Word” from this disc.   

Tom Rizzo – Day And Night (Origin): Composer / guitarist Tom Rizzo has written music for television (“In Living Color”) and for numerous independent films. He was a member of the band on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” during that show’s final years. This disc is his third release as a leader. He composed four numbers for this disc and the covers span from Cole Porter and Vincent Youmans to Stevie Wonder, Wayne Shorter and Ornette Coleman. In addition to Rizzo’s guitar, the basic group includes Dennis Hamm (piano), David Hughes (bass) and Steve Schaeffer (drums). He adds a horn section to several other songs to broaden the soundscape. This group includes Nick Lane (trombone), John Dickson (French horn), Bob Summers (trumpet), Bob Sheppard (tenor sax), Jeff Driskill (soprano sax) and Doug Tornquist (tuba). While there are a few individual horn voices on the disc, they mostly play as a background ensemble. This truly clicks with the mellow sound of the main quartet. The music swings and is quite melodic throughout. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Greg Skaff – Soulmation (Zoho): Electric guitarist Greg Skaff has been based in New York since the 80’s. He began his jazz playing with Stanley Turrentine and has done gigs and recordings with Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman, Bobby Watson and Ron Carter’s Big Band. This is his fourth release as a leader on the Zoho label and Skaff’s funk and rock elements are in charge on this one. He does cover Ellington’s “Fleurette Africaine” and Jan Hammer’s “Smoke In The Sun”, but nine of the twelve tunes are Skaff originals and the style is more funk and jazz-rock. Skaff is supported by bassist Fima Ephron, organist Pat Bianchi, and drummers Jonathon Barber and Charley Drayton who trade off on drums from song to song. Click here and scroll down to listen to the songs on this disc.   

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop

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