New Jazz Releases – 08/05/2024
By Russell Perry
Ben Wolfe
This week we have a new releases from bassist Ben Wolfe, following up one of my favorite discs of last year. We also have several piano trios illustrating the range of that venerable format – Michael Wolff, Ize Trio, and Luther Allison. And more international music from Enrico Granafei (Italy), Bria Skonberg (Canada) and Livio Almeida (Brazil). Enjoy.
Ben Wolfe – The Understated(Self Produced, releases 08/09/2024). Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone, Orrin Evans – piano, Sullivan Fortner – piano, Russell Malone – guitar, Ben Wolfe – bass, Aaron Kimmel – drums.
New York bassist / composer Ben Wolfe (Unjust previewed 01/23/2024) is back with a release of ten of his compositions featuring tenorist Nicole Glover (Plays, reviewed 04/23/2024), pianist Orrin Evans (Tarbaby – You Think This America previewed 06/24/2024) and drummer Aaron Kimmel – all of whom contributed to the last release – Unjust. I loved the last one so much – it was one of the best releases of 2023. This one is just as good. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Bass Musician, Paris Move
Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra – Chesapeake (Planet Arts, released 08/02/2024). Colin Brigstocke, Jason Wiseman, Bill Warfield,- trumpets, Conrad Herwig – trombone, Charley Gordon – trombone / bass trombone, Gary Bartz, Lou Marini, Dave Rieckenberg, Kurt Bacher, Matt Hong – reeds, Cecilia Coleman, Art Hirahara, Eugene Albulescu – keyboards, Paul Shaffer – Hammond organ, Matt Chertkoff, Bill Washer, Bruce Arnold – guitars, Steve Count, Mark Wade – bass, Scott Neumann – drums, Memo Acevedo, Hector – percussion, Jasia Ries – vocals.
Trumpeter / band leader Bill Warfield (Time Capsule previewed 03/06/2023) is back with his Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra, this time with guest slots for Gary Bartz on alto, Conrad Herwig on trombone and Paul Shaffer on organ. The disc is themed to capture both Bartz and Warfield’s childhoods on the Chesapeake Bay (although I don’t follow all the references – Baltimore Oriole, I get, but Cissy Strut?). Not as funky or soulful as the last release, but solid arrangements, well-played.
Suzanne Pittson – Emerge Dancing (Vineland Records, releases 08/02/2024). Jeff Pittson – piano / chromatic harmonica, Evan Pittson – viola, Suzanne Pittson – vocals / piano.
Singer / educator Suzanne Pottson and husband pianist Jeff Pittson have released a spare reading of standards and reinterpreted pop tunes.
Michael Wolff – Memoir (Sunnyside Records, releases 08/02/2024). Michael Wolff – piano, Ben Allison – bass, Allan Mednard – drums.
Coming off a years-long health emergency and now recovered, pianist Michael Wolff has recorded a soulful trio date with Ben Allison (Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols previewed 02/12/2024) on bass, Allan Mednard (Lucas Pino, Chien Chien Lu, Brandee Younger, Marta Sanchez) on drums. Wolff’s substantial composer chops are richly represented in the ten originals on the set (plus one cover – You’ve Changed). Recommended.
Ize Trio – The Global Suites (Self produced, releases 08/02/2024). Chase Morrin – piano, Naseem Alatrash – cello, John Patitucci – bass, George Lewis – percussion, Farayi Malek – vocals, Heiraza – vocals.
The Ize Trio (as in improvise, humanize, harmonize, and empathize) is international in composition and feel, made up of California pianist / composer Chase Morrin, Cypriot percussionist George Lernis and Palestinian cellist Naseem Alatrash. Collectively, they have produced one of the most unique takes on the traditional jazz piano trio. Together they perform four suites tackling social issues, supported on some of the tracks by John Patitucci on bass and two singers. A beautiful and provocative program of compositions by Morrin.
Reviews: The Arts Fuse, Jazz Views, Making A Scene
Enrico Granafei – It’s Hard To Say Goodbye (Consolidated Artists Productions, released 07/29/2024). Claudio Roditi – flugelhorn, Enrico Granafei – chromatic harmonica, Mike Longo – piano, Amina Figarova – piano / keyboards / Fender Rhodes, Neil Alexander – keyboards, Takashi Otsuka – bass, Greg Jones – bass, Christian Fabian – bass, Gordon Lane – drums, Sylvia Cuenca – drums, Richie Morales – drums, Diego Lopez – tambourine, Annette Aguilar – percussion.
Italian guitarist / singer Enrico Granafei has mastered the seldom-attempted hands-free chromatic harmonica (see it to believe it). Granafei repays a huge debt to his mentor and chromatic harmonica innovator Toots Thielemans with three covers of the master – Bluesette, To My Lady and the title tune. There is a strong Brazilian overlay on several tunes including Medo De Amar (Vincius de Moraes) and several tunes by the leader. Remarkable playing.
Review: Making A Scene
John Lamkin II & The Favorites Jazz Quintet – Movin’ (Self Produced, released 07/26/2024). John Lamkin II – trumpet / flugelhorn, Michael Hairston – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Craig Alston – tenor saxophone, Bob Butta – piano, Michael Graham Jr – bass, Blake Meister – bass, Jesse Moody III – drums, John Lamkin III – drums, Philip Thomas – drums.
Mid-Atlantic trumpet veteran John Lamkin II has released only his third disc over a 40-year career of playing and teaching. Primarily in a hard bop / soul jazz mode, the disc features two different trumpet – saxophone quintets performing a set of nine originals plus Go Down Moses.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Baltimore Jazz
Allan Hirt – Looking Back(Megahirtz Records, released 07/26/2024). Matt Rivero – trumpet, Cliff Gluck – trumpet / flugelhorn, Hikaru Sato – trombone, Mike Rosen – bass trombone, Mike Jacobs – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone / tenor saxophone, Larry Gelberg – baritone saxophone, Thom Cox – guitar, Allan Hirt – bass / Mellotron, Rich Adkins – drums, Bruce Hanahan – drums, Andreas Brade – percussion, Adam Nazro – percussion.
Boston bassist Allan Hirt has recorded a program of covers of tunes by Neal Hefti, Monk, Horace Silver, Vince Guaraldi, Miles and Trane on the one hand and Steely Dan, Foo Fighters, Robert Fripp, and Billy Joel on the other. Baritone sax lovers may find music of interest here.
Bria Skonberg – What It Means (Cellar Music, released 07/26/2024). Bria Skonberg – trumpet / vocals, Ethan Santos – trombone, Ben Jaffe – sousaphone, Aurora Nealand – soprano saxophone, Rex Gregory – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Chris Pattishall – piano, Don Vappie – guitar / banjo, Grayson Brockamp – bass, Herlin Riley – drums, Gabrielle Cavassa – vocals.
Canadian trumpeter Bria Skonberg has recorded an affectionate homage to New Orleans with NOLA stalwarts Grayson Brockamp (bass), Don Vappie (guitar/banjo) and Herlin Riley (drums). Her repertoire includes NOLA standards like Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, Cornet Chop Suey and Petite Fleur. Skonberg has a ringing trumpet tone and a pitch perfect breathy voice, however this release strikes me as mostly unfulfilling nostalgia.
Reviews: Paris Move, Jazz Sensibilities, Jazz Weekly
Livio Almeida – Brasilia Sessions (Zoho Music, released 07/19/2024). Livio Almeida – tenor saxophone, Misael Silvestre – keys, Daniel Castro – bass, Pedro Almeida – drums.
In his sophomore release, New York-based Brazilian saxophonist Livio Almeida returned to Brasilia to record a set of jazz responses to traditional rhythms and themes. A fine composer in addition to a fluid tenor player, this program features six original compositions alongside of interpretations of two Brazilian standards. The soothing side of samba and lovely.
Reviews: Latin Jazz Net, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Luther Allison – I Owe It All To You (Posi-Tone, released 07/19/2024). Luther Allison – piano, Boris Kozlov – bass, Zach Adleman – drums.
For the last decade, pianist Luther Allison has been a go-to player for Posi-Tone Records (Michael Dease, Diego Rivera, Markus Howell, Becoming Quintet) and his debut as a leader features trio-mates from that stable. The ten-track set includes four originals plus four from Memphis pianists Donald Brown, Mulgrew Miller, James Williams and Harold Mabern – so expect a soulful presentation. Allison is a sparkling and facile pianist from whom we can expect more fine music to come. Recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, New York Times, Something Else
I hope that something here tickles your ears.
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
