New Jazz Adds – 6/17/2017
New Jazz Adds – 6/17/2017
Ignacio Berroa Trio – Straight Ahead From Havana (Self-produced): Drummer Ignacio Berroa leads his trio on a set of old Cuban melodies with a straight-ahead jazz approach. He recalled many of the songs from his childhood in Havana. The band includes Martin Bejerano (piano) and Josh Allen (bass) with special guests Lowell Ringel (bass), Conrado “Coky” Garcia (percussion) and on one track a lead vocal by Ruben Blades. The program is quite nice. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Alan Broadbent w/ The London Metropolitan Orchestra – Developing Story (Eden River Records): This is orchestral jazz – a new attempt to combine the two forms. Composer Alan Broadbent contributed three original pieces and selected four jazz standards: Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now”, John Coltrane’s “Naima”, and Miles Davis’ “Blue In Green” and “Milestones” for the program. The London Metropolitan Orchestra performs under the direction of Andy Brown. The players are David Juritz and Ralph de Souza (violins); Garfield Jackson (viola); Caroline Dale (cello); Chris Laurence (bass); Anna Noakes (flute); John Anderson (oboe); Anthony Pike (clarinet); Alan Andrews (bass clarinet); Gavin McNaughton (bassoon); Martin Owen (horn, tuba); Christine Powell (English horn); Gill Tingay (harp); Gary Kettel (percussion); and Tristan Frye (timps). It’s an interesting idea and a terrific set of players, but you’ll have to be open to the interpretive blend. Click here for an introduction to this disc.
Chicago Jazz Orchestra – Live From Space (Self-produced): The Chicago Jazz Orchestra is primarily a swing band with a generally mellow or controlled style. They stress that they are a jazz orchestra dedicated to preserving that tradition. I’m not familiar with earlier recordings, but there have been several. They play a combination of classics from Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington and more recent material from the pens of Monty Alexander, Frank Foster and Ahmad Jamal. The orchestra includes John Wojciechowski (tenor, alto sax), Bill Overton (alto, soprano sax), Scott Burns, Eric Schneider and Mark Colby (tenor sax), Jerry DiMuzio (bari sax), Danny Barber, Doug Scharf, Victor Garcia and Art Davis (trumpets), Tim Coffman, Tom Garling, Joel Adams, and Steve Duncan (trombones), Michael Young (bass trombone), Dan Trudell (piano), Dennis Carroll (bass), George Fludas (drums) and Frieda Lee (vocals). A solid set. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra: Dreaming Big (Gold Fox): The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra is dedicated to the possibilities of the jazz orchestra in the “now”. Gold seeks to honor the tradition while “breaking new imaginative ground” (liner notes), which includes mixing a variety of “styles, colors and emotions”. The textures mix world music with jazz in an excitingly fresh manner. The performers include Mark Vinci (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute), Matt Hong (alto sax, clarinet, flute), Dave Riekenberg (tenor, flute, clarinet), Tim Ries (tenor sax, flute, clarinet), Charles Pillow (soprano sax, clarinet), Frank Basile (bari sax, bass clarinet); Jon Owens, James de la Garza, Dylan Schwab and Scott Wendbolt (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bruce Eiden, John Alfred, Bob Suttmann, and Jeff Nelson (trombones); Ted Kooshian (piano), Sebastian Noelle (guitar), Phil Palombi (bass), and Scott Neumann (drums). The set is adventurous and highly entertaining. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc. The “not available” labels refer to downloading.
Louis Hayes – Serenade For Horace (Blue Note): This is a beautiful tribute disc to the great pianist Horace Silver from his first drummer on the Blue Note recordings, Louis Hayes. He recorded with Silver from 1956 -1959. Hayes selected Dezron Douglas (bass), Abraham Burton (tenor sax), David Bryant (piano), Josh Evans (trumpet) and Steve Nelson (vibes) as his accompanying musicians. Sings range from “Senor Blues”, “Song For My Father” and “Strollin’” to several less famous sides. The program is very nice throughout. A fitting tribute. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Theo Hill – Promethean (Positone): “On the cover of Promethean, pianist Theo Hill’s debut album for Posi-Tone Records, is a quote from filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard: “It’s not where you take things from,” it reads, “it’s where you take them to.” In that spirit of transportation-and transformation-Hill presents a program of 11 songs in which his goal is to pay homage to the music of his idols while cultivating his own distinct voice.” (webpage) The songs include Bobby Timmons’ “This Here”, Herbie Hancock’s “Finger Painting”, and two apiece from Tony Williams and Kenny Kirkland, among others. Hill’s backing players are Yasuchi Nakamura (bass) and Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums) and both shine throughout the disc as well. Hill is clearly the leader on the disc, but the trio is a terrific unit. I regret I am unable to find a sample from this disc. Click here for a live performance from 2015. Note the bass player is not Yasuchi Nakamura.
Jason Kao Hwang – Sing House (Self-produced): Jason Kao Hwang takes us on a walk to the outside of melody on this disc. He composed all four selections and plays violin and viola, often shifts textures from melodic to the edge of atonal or even percussive playing. He is joined by Andrew Drury (drums), Ken Filiano (bass), Chris Forbes (piano) and Steve Swell (trombone). Hwang has composed and performed in a variety of musical groups that seek to stretch musical boundaries. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the four selections on this disc.
Vadim Neselovskyi Trio – Get Up And Go (BluJazz): This is composer/pianist Vadim Neselovskyi’s first recording with a trio. He has normally preferred a more orchestral setting, but as he was about to perform a concert, news of an Ukrainian aircraft being shot down by rebels changed the performance significantly. He chose a more intimate grouping and this disc reflects that shift. Neselovskyi is an amazing player on piano and melodica. He has deep classical roots but adds influences from both jazz and pop. Drummer/percussionist Ronen Itzik has a particularly simpatico connection the pianist. Dan Loomis adds just enough bass support to anchor the performance. Sara Serpa also adds atmospheric vocalizations on two songs. The overall sound and style is classical with influences from jazz, classical and world styles. There is a special mix of styles and emotions brought to light during the recording. Click here for an introduction with samples from Neselovskyi.
Simona Premazzi – Outspoken (Self-produced): Italian composer/pianist Simone Premazzi has been based in NYC for over a decade and now offers her fourth release. She has a style that is somewhat mellow, yet quite inventive. There is a somewhat edgy yet floating quality to several of the songs here. All compositions are her’s and she is supported by Dayna Stephens (tenor, soprano sax), Joe Martin (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums), with guests Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) and Sara Serpa (vocals) on one track each. The set is surprisingly dreamy or floating with additional surprises along the way. Click here to listen to three songs on from this disc.
Dylan Taylor – One In Mind (BluJazz): Bassist/celloist Dylan Taylor has had a streak of very good luck over the years: A member of a local jazz band that backed up visiting players, he met and played with guitarist Larry Coryell. He later befriended and played with drummer Mike Clark. In 2015, the friends were set up to do a live performance which was wiped out by a heavy snowstorm, but also stranded the players in the performance hall. While stranded, they took advantage by playing AND recording their planned performance. Hence this disc. It may well be the last recording for Coryell, who passed away in February of this year. The program features five compositions by Coryell, one by Clark and three by Taylor, plus a cover of Bud Powell’s “John’s Abbey”. The performance is wonderfully varied and alive. Definitely a must for fans of Larry Coryell, jazz trios or varied explorations by three tapped-in musicians. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Akiko Tsuruga – So Cute, So Bad (Self-produced): This is release number 10 for Hammond B-3 whiz Akiko Tsuruga and it is her first live recording. On hearing this disc, I would certainly go to see her if I could. She mentions Lou Donaldson, Grady Tate and Dr. Lonnie Smith as significant influences and, not surprisingly, I hear a lot of Jimmy Smith as well. Tsuruga is accompanied by Jeff Hamilton (drums) and Graham Dechter (guitar). The trio is dynamite! They perform three of Tsuruga’s compositions and a range of compositions to which they swing and burn. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Ronny Whyte – Shades Of Whyte (Audiophile): Whyte is a veteran pianist and vocalist in the tradition of Frank Sinatra. In fact, he appeared Off-Broadway for two years in the show “Our Sinatra”. He has released numerous recordings over the years. The program on this disc includes five originals written or co-written by Whyte and a variety of cabaret tunes from Jerome Kern, Blossom Dearie and a variety of others. Accompanying musicians include Boots Maleson (bass), Sean Harkness (guitar), Lou Caputo (tenor sax, flute), and Alex Nguyen (trumpet) with Mauricio De Sousa and David Silliman sharing drum chores. Click here to sample four songs from this release.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
