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New Jazz Adds – 5/12/2020

Robby Ameen – Diluvio (Origin): “Grammy-winning New York drummer Robby Ameen has had an established recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon over the last four decades, highlighted by a 20-year run with the band of Latin icon Ruben Blades. Although he’s of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he developed and displayed on hundreds of recordings, including many with Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Kip Hanrahan, and Conrad Herwig’s Latin Side All-Stars. Diluvio marks Ameen’s 3rd release as a composer, arranger & band leader, teaming with Troy Roberts, Bob Franceschini, Conrad Herwig, Edsel Gomez, Lincoln Goines, Bill O’Connell & Mauricio Herrera, most with whom he goes back several decades. Musically, it’s his vision of the sounds he’s dedicated a lifetime to exploring: Afro-Cuban music with deep strains of contemporary hard bop and funk, thoroughly infused with an indomitable spirit.” (http://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82801) Six of the nine songs on offer are Ameen originals. The accompanying players are Troy Roberts (tenor sax (1,6,7,8,9) & soprano (4)); Bob Franceschini (tenor sax (1,2,3,4,6), soprano (4,5), bari (8)); Conrad Herwig (trombone (1,2,3,5,8)); Edsel Gomez (piano (2,3,4,5), fender rhodes (1)); Bill O’Connell (piano (6,7,8), fender rhodes (5)); Lincoln Goines (acoustic & electric bass) and Mauricio Herrera (congas & cajón). There is a good bit of blended variety on this disc. Energetic! Click here to listen to samples of two songs on this disc.

Dave Askren / Jeff Benedict – Paraphernalia – The Music Of Wayne Shorter (Tapestry): Dave Askren has performed with a variety of jazz/latin jazz/instrumental artists, including Bob Moses, Antonio Hart, Delfeayo Marsalis, Hendrik Muerkins, Stuart Hamm, Bruce Arnold, Bobby Shew, “Rhubumba”, Sal Cracciolo, Jimmy Branly, Joey DeLeon Jr, David King and Reid Anderson (The Bad Plus), Ben Schacter, Gray Sargent, Kevin Eubanks, Gary Foster, Tony Rizzi’s “Wire Choir” with Pete Christlieb; Mike Vax, as well as commercial recording artists including Marilyn McCoo, Latoya Jackson, Linda Hopkins, Little Anthony, The Coasters, The Platters, The Diamonds, The Drifters, The Marvelletes….” (https://daveaskren.com/bio) He also has numerous releases as leader or co-leader. This disc is dedicated to Wayne Shorter and in addition to Askren on guitar, the players are Jeff Benedict (sax), Jonathan Pintoff (bass) and Chris Garcia (percussion). The guitar and sax bring a wonderfully joyful and mellow sound to these gems. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.

Wayne Escoffery – The Humble Warrior (Smoke Sessions): “2014 Downbeat Critics Poll Winner and Grammy Award winning tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. In 2006 he secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. His current working quartet features pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson and has a released three albums, the latest of which is The Humble Warrior on the Smoke Sessions Records label.” (https://www.wayneescoffery.com/music) Click here to listen to the title song, “The Humble Warrior”.

Five Alarm Funk – Big Smoke (ropeadope): “Set to release their 7th studio album, Big Smoke in 2020, the 11 tracks get right to the roots of what Five Alarm Funk is all about: epic, intense arrangements, heavy groove and a ton of fun.” (https://www.fivealarmfunk.com/) The players are Tayo Branston (Lead Vocals, Drums); Gabe Boothroyd (Guitar); Oliver Gibson (Guitar); Tim Parent (Bass); Tom Towers (Congas); Brent Mah (Sax); and Kent Wallace (Trumpet). They also have two guests Bootsy Collins and Leo P chanting one song each. Click here to check out their music.

Errol Garner – Feeling Is Believing (Octive / Mack Avenue): This set was released in 1970. Garner’s piano is pretty much the style you would hear across any of the trio sets he recorded. The recording offers Garner with backing from George Duvivier on bass on all but one song when Gerald Jemmott takes over and drums were played Jimmie Smith (1 song), Joe Cocuzzo (4 songs) and Charles Persip (6 songs). Juan Mangual plays congas. Click here to listen to samples of songs on this release.

Steve Khan – Patchwork (Tone Center): “Patchwork is the title of Steve’s new recording, and there is, of course, a subtitle in Spanish, “Medio Mezclado.” This new recording represents the 4th in a series where Steve continues to enhance the role of the guitar in the context of Latin music and Latin Jazz. Once again, the core group features Rob Mounsey (Keys & Orchestrations); Rubén Rodríguez (Baby Bass & Elec. Bass), Bobby Allende (Conga), Marc Quiñones (Timbal, Bongo & Perc.), and the great Dennis Chambers (Drums) returns. The guest artists should be familiar to all those who have followed these albums, and their contributions were immense, they include: Randy Brecker (Flügelhorn); Bob Mintzer (Tenor Sax) and Tatiana Parra (Voice). For the first time, composer and keyboard artist Jorge Estrada appears on his own composition, “Huracán Clare” which is, of course, dedicated to the wondrous Clare Fischer. In all, they perform Steve’s arrangements of compositions by: Thelonious Monk, “Epistrophy”; Ornette Coleman, “C. & D.” and “T. & T.”; Joe Henderson, “A Shade of Jade”; Bobby Hutcherson, “Bouquet”; and Keith Jarrett’s “The Journey Home.” As always, the recording features a gorgeous ballad: “Too Late Now” written by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane.” (http://www.stevekhan.com/) So smooth and beautiful! Click here and scroll way down to listen to the songs on this disc.

Josh Nelson Trio – The Discovery Project / Live In Japan (Steel Bird): “Born and raised in Southern California pianist-composer-bandleader Josh Nelson has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, John Clayton, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Dave Koz, Joe Chambers and Peter Erskine. Nelson toured with legendary vocalist Natalie Cole for six years and continues to tour with vocalists Gaby Moreno, Freda Payne, Alicia Olatuja, Sara Gazarek, accordionist Richard Galliano, saxophonist Tom Scott, multi-instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and violinist Christian Howes. He taught jazz for four years at Soka University and more recently at Cal State University Northridge. In 2006, Nelson was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.” (https://www.joshnelsonmusic.com/about) Nelson has wonderful style and agility that draws the listener into the music. Cool, fresh and beautifully enticing, Nelson’s rhythm section, Alex Boneham (bass) and Dan Schnelle (drums), creates a dazzling accompaniment. Click here and scroll down to listen to a sample of the opening piece, “Mint Blues”.

Aaron Parks – Little Big II: Dreams Of A Mechanical Man (ropeadope): “”Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” These words by legendary bassist/composer Charles Mingus are a touchstone for Little Big, the quartet led by pianist Aaron Parks. The band’s new recording, Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man, communicates with a clarity and simplicity that belies its ultimate depth. “I want to cast a spell,” explains Parks, “to lull you into a trance where you think you know where you’re going, and then take you somewhere unexpected, almost without realizing how you got there.” This new music continues the band’s cultivation of a musical language that marries creative improvised music to more groove-centered music—electronica, indie-rock, hip-hop, and psychedelia—but without a trace of mannered “fusion” or a sense that the music is cobbled together from disparate styles. Rather, it feels seamlessly integrated, whole in and of itself. “Dreams of a Mechanical Man” is Little Big’s second release on Ropeadope Records, recorded after more than two years of touring for Parks, guitarist Greg Tuohey, bassist David “DJ” Ginyard, and drummer Tommy Crane. One primary distinction of this new album, according to Parks, is that “today, the band operates as a single organism. The first record was about the tunes and the aesthetic. This album keeps that focus and also captures the chemistry we’ve developed on the road, the way this band feels as it makes music in the moment. The players are Aaron Parks (piano, synthesizers, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, celeste, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, voice), Greg Tuohey (guitar), David Ginyard, Jr (bass) and
Tommy Crane (drums, percussion). All songs written by Aaron Parks (Invisible Cinema Music, BMI) except “Is Anything Okay?” and “Where Now?” by Aaron Parks (Invisible Cinema Music, BMI), Greg Tuohey, David Ginyard, Jr, Tommy Crane, and Chris Taylor. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc. 

Enrico Rava / Giovanni Guidi / Matthew Herbert – For Mario (Live) (Accidental): “There’s nothing that really prepares your ears for the cacophonous symphony of odd textures, haunting and expansive ambiences, out of the blue soloing, intense electronica immersions and – the piece de resistance – Enrico Rava’s occasional beautiful trumpet and flugelhorn passages on the veteran Italian jazz hero’s five part collection For Mario (Live),” a whimsical creation by his group Rava, Herbert, Guidi…. It’s a fascinating intergenerational affair whose emotional core pits Rava’s wafting, then sometimes oddly percussive horns against the alternately sensitive yet wildly musing piano of the much younger Giovanni Guidi. Their jazzy instincts are then whipped into the revolutionary, sample heavy electronica blender of British composer and electronic music pioneer Matthew Herbert. To create the five distinct parts (Part 1, Part 2, etc), Herbert recorded hundreds of samples of his two cohorts. These became the basis for every trippy sonic detail he crafted, twisted and manipulated. The way, way, way off the beaten path aural magnificence/insanity was designed to simulate a quartet, with the two acoustic performers improvising over recordings of themselves. Beyond Herbert’s ingenious knob twisting, fellow electronic musician and noted instrument builder Huge Jones adds extra layers of sampling. As you listen, you will feel everything from calm bliss to disturbing annoyance as the three musicians take you on their fascinating journey. (https://www.jwvibe.com/post/rava-herbert-guidi-for-mario-live) Click here to listen to a sample of this trio’s work though this particular performance is not from this release.

Tim Shaghoian – Gentle Beacons (OA2): “Up-and-coming saxophonist/composer Tim Shaghoian’s debut album Gentle Beacons is a message of hope and wonder delivered by a pensive soul. Of Gentle Beacons Shaghoian states, “This record speaks to the beauty of human connection and grapples with the emotional fallout from loss. Writing the music for the album helped me to better understand and embrace the relationships and events that have impacted me the most. The resulting songs became gentle beacons guiding me forward as a musician and human being. Gentle Beacons features 9 of Shaghoian’s original compositions and a creative reimagining of the beloved jazz standard My Foolish Heart. The music on the record dances with subtle shifts of emotion while song-like melodies are framed in unexpected rhythmic and harmonic structures. Gentle Beacons features Shaghoian’s California-based quintet with guitarist Chris Janzen, pianist Kevin Person Jr., bassist Richard Giddens, and drummer Antonio Montañez joining Shaghoian on saxophone.” (https://timshaghoianmusic.bandcamp.com/album/gentle-beacons) Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.

The TNEK Jazz Quintet – “…Plays The Music of Sam Jones” (TNEK Jazz): “The name Sam Jones might not spark instant recognition among modern jazz fans, but his countless all-star associations will. Best known for his work with Cannonball Adderley from 1959-65, the influential bassist and composer’s resume also features a long stint with Oscar Peterson (1966-70) and dates with Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Farmer, Red Garland and Thelonious Monk.” (https://www.jwvibe.com/post/2020/04/07/the-tnek-jazz-quintet-plays-the-music-of-sam-jones) In fact, this disc opens with Jones’ “Unit Seven” and continues playing his compositions until the closing with Kenny Baron’s “Tragic Magic”. The players in the  TNEK Jazz Quintet are Kent Miller (bass), Darius Scott (piano), Greg Holloway (drums), Benny Holloway (drums), Benny Russell (tenor and soprano sax) and Antonio Parker (alto sax) and they keep things jumping except for a chance to catch their respective breaths on “Lillie” a  smooth ballad in the middle of the set. It is a truly fine set! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.

Seth Trachy – Zigmon (ropeadope): “Saxophonist/composer Seth Trachy was raised on a farm in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and spent his childhood exploring the Appalachian wilderness and absorbing the soulful sounds of artists such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding from his father’s record collection. Trachy received recognition early on in the Downbeat student music awards while attending high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Kenny Werner, Dave Douglas, Steve Cardenas, Peter Bernstein, Miguel Zenon, Henry Cole, Clarence Penn and Jeff Hirshfield.. Trachy relocated to New Jersey in 2000 to study on full scholarship at William Patterson University for two years before completing his studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. In 2005, Trachy was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Workshop as well as the Ravinia Jazz Festival. He has studied with Sam Yahel, Dave Tofani, Miguel Zenon, George Garzone, Armen Donelian, Joe Lovano, and Eddie Saulkin. In addition to studying jazz, Trachy has studied Indian classic music at the Ustad Alik Akbar Khan School of Music in San Rafael, California. He currently lives in Brooklyn working as a freelance saxophonist. Zygmon performs modern instrumental adaptations of Cameroonian Baka pygmy music. Inspired by a lifelong fascination with Pygmy music from the Ituri Rainforest Trachy wrote a suit of compositions based on transcriptions of Baka music. After workshopping the repertoire for a year with bandmates Glenn Zaleski, Pablo Menares and Felix Lecaros Zygmon went into the studio to record the debut album with special guest Miguel Zenon.” (https://sethtrachy.com/about/)    Click here to listen to a sample of their work.

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop