New Jazz Adds – 9/19/2017

New Jazz Adds – 9/19/2017

Kei Akagi Trio – Contrast & Form (Time & Style Jazz): Educator/composer/pianist Kei Akagi offers his 14th release as a leader. He is accompanied by Shunya Wakai (bass) and Tamaya Honda (drums). This particular project was composed over a three year period and includes a re-imagining of Wayne Shorter’s “Limbo” composed during Miles Davis’ second quintet. The central notion of this disc is contrast and form, two contrasting yet interdependent qualities in music. Some of the music is highly rhythmic, even percussive, while other songs are focused on melody. The disc is a must for piano trio fans. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Gerald Beckett – Oblivian (Summit): Flautist Gerald Beckett has been a successful jazz player for many years. He has spent his most successful time on the West Coast. He switches between flute and alto flute and this appears to be his sixth release as a leader. The disc is a collection of several different sessions with the main goal being to give each song a “fresh interpretation”. The disc includes songs composed by Miles Davis, Cal Tjader, Ellis Marsalis, Gerry Mulligan and Harold Arlen among others with the groupings shifting from jazz quartet or quintet to string quartet. The supporting players are Ruben Salcido (alto, soprano sax); Michele Walther (1st violin); Yehduit Lieberman (2nd violin); Michelle Mastin (viola); Nancy Bien (cello); Gary Zellerbach and Ari Caprow (guitar); Dan Neville (vibes); Steve McQuarry (keyboard); Charles Thomas, Ollie Dudek and Jim Shearer (alternating on bass); Greg German, Fred Johnson and Poh Soon Teng (alternating on drums); and Steve Nelson and Michaelle Goerlitz (percussion). The performance is varied but flows beautifully. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.   

Ron Francis Blake – Assimilation (Self-produced): Having played in support of Poncho Sanchez, Green Day, Ziggy Marley, and Ben Harper among others, Ron Francis Blake (trumpet, flugelhorn) has stepped out as a leader and dedicated his first release to his father who supported his love of many styles and encouraged him to follow his heart. Blake wrote or co-wrote five of the seven songs on the disc and describes his music as “inspired by Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue along with the latin rhythms and sound of Cal Tjader”. The result is an engaging and fresh delight. Participating musicians include Ron Hardt (tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet); Francisco Torres (trombone); Andy Langham and Joe Rotondi (piano); Rene Camacho and Dante Pascuzzo (bass); Nick Mancini (vibes); Jimmy Branly (drums); Joey De Leon (timbales, percussion); Steve Giraldo (vocals); special guests Poncho Sanchez (congas, quuada); Seamus Blake and Walt Weiskopf (tenor sax); Andy Abad (guitar) and Adonis Puentes (vocal); and a special brass ensemble featuring Wayne Bergeron and Javier Gonzales (flugelhorn); Lisa McCormick and Tawnee Lillo (French horns); Andy Martin (trombone) and Francisco Torres (bass trombone) on three songs. A fresh and engaging sound. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.    

Nathan Brown Trio – This Is The Moment (Gut String): This appears to be bassist/composer Nathan Brown’s first release. He has a background in classical and jazz and has performed with Frank Morgan, Paquito D. Rivera, and John Faddis, among others. Five of the ten songs on this disc are his original compositions. The trio is filled by Felix Lemerle (guitar) and Peter Traunmueller (drums). Musical variety is enhanced by covers ranging from Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley’s “Cheer Up, Charlie”, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil’s “Just A Little Lovin’” and Grant Green’s “No. 1 Green Street”. The set simply flows from beginning to end. This group swings with the best around and their mellow touch is delightful. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

John Daversa – Wobbley Dance Flower (BFM Jazz): Leader John Daversa (trumpet, EVI and composer of all but one song on this disc) proclaims in his liner notes that this album was “lovingly crafted to evoke joy in the listener even as it nourishes the soul. The through line for this project can be boiled down to one word: fun!” The performance is whimsical, foppish, and fusion, all with a flourish of play without getting overly outside. The players supporting Daversa are Bob Mintzer (tenor sax, bass clarinet, EWI), Zane Carney (guitar), Joe Bagg (piano, B3), Jerry Watts Jr (bass, U-bass) and Gene Coye (drums). For those wondering if I had a mis-type about EVIs and EWIs, here’s the difference: “EWI is the name of a wind controller…  EVI (acronym for electronic valve instrument) fingering mode…allows brass players to play the EWI….” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EWI_(musical_instrument) I’m glad to have cleared that up for you! In any case, this disc is fun! Check it out! Unfortunately, samples of the disc are not available yet as the official release date is 9/22. Hey, that’s not much fun! You’ll need to call your favorite jazz dj at WTJU and request a listen until then!

Douye – Daddy Said So (Self-produced): Douye is a young singer who began her career singing pop and soul ballads and, at the request of her father, has moved more in a jazz direction. Her voice is very pleasant and she has a sultry side that is quite striking. This disc is made up of 14 essential ballads, including “Lush Life”, “Mood Indigo”, “Body And Soul”, “In A Sentimental Mood” and “Someone To Watch Over Me” among others. The musical accompaniment is quite lush, but does not have a string section. Instrumental groupings include quartets and larger bands, but the idea is clearly to keep in the jazz domain. There is a large set of musicians who add the musical atmosphere, including very special guest appearances by Kenny Barron (piano), Russell Malone (guitar) and Ron Carter (bass). Click here to listen to samples of several songs on this disc.   

George Freeman – 90 Going On Amazing (Blujazz): Guitarist George Freeman, who is one a a very small group of living jazz musicians who actually played with Charlie Parker, presents this disc of mostly original compositions. His dexterity is stunning! His creativity certainly stands out as well. Freeman is accompanied by Jack Zara (bass), Kevin Patrick (drums) and the fabulous Vince Willis (piano). Patrick is fluid and inventive and interacts with Freeman beautifully. So, while the grouping is novel, this is no novelty act. This is real jumping and swinging jazz. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Behn Gillece – Walk Of Fire (Positone): Vibraphonist Behn Gillece Offers ten original compositions on his third disc as a leader. There is a good amount of variety across the set and Gillece and the group shows each tune off well. The accompanying musicians are Bruce Harris (trumpet), Walt Weiskopf (tenor sax), Michael Dease (trombone), Adam Birnbaum (piano), Clovis Nicolas (bass), and Jason Tiemann (drums). The sound is truly fresh. Click here to listen to the title track.   

Joe Policastro Trio – Screen Sounds (JeruJazz): Bassist Joe Policastro and his bandmates Dave Miller (guitar) and Mikel Avery (drums, percussion) are avid movie and TV watchers, as well as being lovers of visual arts of all sorts, including architecture, literature, and poetry. This project brings together themes from a wide variety of shows, including “Everybody’s Talkin’” from”Midnight Cowboy”, “Nadia’s Theme” from “The Young And The Restless”, The “Twin Peaks Theme”, and themes from “The Godfather”, “Blade Runner” and “Having An Average Weekend” from “Kids In The Hall”. Click here for an introduction by the group and the option of listening to several of the songs on this disc.   

Dave Potter – You Already Know (Summit): Dave Potter is an up and coming jazz drummer, having appeared on four recordings by Jason Marsalis so far. In fact, Marsalis appears as a guest musician (vibes) on four of the dozen performances on this disc. Other musicians appearing on this disc are Austin Johnson, Marcus Roberts and Louis Heriveaux (piano); Will Goble, Rodney Jordan and Craig Shaw (bass); Darren English and Andy Sioberg (trumpet); and Miguel Alvarado (tenor, soprano sax). Potter composed four of the songs here and arranged five others while one each of the remaining three were written by Marcus Roberts, Jason Marsalis and Miguel Alvarado. Put it all together and the disc has great playing and variety. It’s cool and hip and even has a hot bop tune (“Lettin’ Loose”)! I regret I am unable to find a sample from this disc.

Steve Smith & Vital Information (NYC Edition) – Heart Of The City (BFM Jazz): Drummer/composer/band leader Steve Smith is a melting pot of experience and attitude: beginning his professional career in a big band right after graduating from Berklee College of Music, he soon played with bebopper Buddy DeFranco and was a member of a free-jazz group, The Fringe. He joined Jean-Luc Ponty’s fusion band a year later and by 1978 he was a member of Journey. Smith formed Vital Information in 1998. This particular disc features five covers and seven originals written or co-written by Smith. The covers include Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.”, Monk’s “Rhythm-A-Ning”, Cole Porter’s “I Love You”, Johnny Mercer’s “I’m An Old Cowhand” and Ray Noble’s “Cherokee”. Why the standards? Smith explains it’s a part of the jazz culture, regardless of one’s main mode and it is often used by audiences and other musicians as a way of comparing and contrasting the skills of players and their creativity improvising in a tune that everyone knows. Smith adds a funky feeling to many of the songs on this disc. In additional to Smith (drums, konnakol), the band members are Baron Browne (basses, vocal), Mark Soskin (piano, Fender Rhodes), and Vinny Valentino ( electric guitar). Andy Fusco (alto sax) and George Brooks (tenor, alto sax) are special guests. Click here for a brief introduction from the group.   

Lizz Wright – Grace (Concord): Lizz Wright is now an established singer/songwriter with a half dozen discs to her name. This one is a collection of message songs from a number of sources. First and foremost, her gospel background comes through on the gospel songs like Thomas A. Dorsey’s “Singing In My Soul” or her cover of Ray Charles’ “What Would I Do Without You” or the stunning “Grace”. She also does amazing versions of Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights” and Bob Dylan’s “Every Grain Of Sand” and she co-wrote the song “All The Way Here” with Maia Sharp. Supporting musicians include Jay Bellerose (drums, percussion), David Piltch (bass), Chris Bruce and Marvin Sewell (acoustic, electric guitars), Kenny Banks (piano, Hammond organ) and guests Patrick Warren (keys), Marc Ribot (guitar) and a chorus of background singers on “Seems I’m Never Tired Lovin’ You” and “What Would I Do Without You”.  I can’t say it’s jazz, but I can and do say it is a magnificent recording. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop

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