New Jazz Adds – 10/15/2019
New Jazz Adds – 10/15/2019
Royce Campbell – Organ Trio (Self-produced): Royce Campbell offers his 33rd release under his own direction and he has performed with such jazz guitar greats as Pat Martino, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Mundell Lowe, John Pisano, Charlie Byrd, Gene Bertoncini, and Bucky Pizzarelli and other jazz giants including Mel Torme, James Moody, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Jack McDuff, Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Cleo Laine, Eddie Harris, Frank Morgan, Gerry Mulligan, Houston Person, Freddy Cole, Jimmy Cobb, Rosemary Clooney, and Mose Allison. Campbell, of course, leads this set and is ably supported by Jonah Kane-West (organ) and Billy Williams, Jr. (drums). Dazzling from beginning to end. I regret I am unable to find a sample from this disc.
John Coltrane – Blue World (Impulse): “An album John Coltrane recorded with his Classic Quartet in 1964 will be released for the first time. Blue World, recorded directly between “Crescent” and “A Love Supreme”, takes an unfamiliar route for Coltrane, comprising revisions of his earlier work. Listen to the title track below.. (In the end, 10 minutes of the session appeared in the film.) The release was mastered from the original analog tape, according to a Universal press release.” (https://pitchfork.com/news/john-coltranes-1964-album-blue-world-gets-first-ever-release/) The players include John Coltrane (tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). Click here to listen to “Blue World”.
Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy 2 (Concord Jazz): Trilogy 2 is a live follow up featuring Corea on dazzling piano, Christian McBride on bass and Brian Blade on drums. The music begins with “How Deep Is The Ocean” and offers three Corea compositions with a wonderful set of the trio’s takes spanning from Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is The Ocean” to Monk’s “Crepuscule With Nellie” and “Work”, Miles’ “All Blues”, Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and closing with Joe Henderson’ “Serenity” and Kenny Dorham’s “Lotus Blossom”. Wonderful variety and terrific musicianship all around. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this set.
Kurt Elling & James Morrison – Live In New York (New Prescription): This live date features Kurt Elling who has a delivery reminiscent of the elder Frank Sinatra and trumpeter James Morrison. Elling is full of the nightclub sound and Morrison lays out some fine blues trumpet. Songs range from the classic “September In The Rain” and Buddy Johnson’s “Save Your Love For Me” to Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing’s “Goin’ To Chicago” and Oscar Brown’s “Brother Where are You”. It’s an interesting date. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Roberto Fonseca – Yesun (Mack Avenue): Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca released his first disc about ten years ago. He has continued to blend Latin jazz with R&B and African rhythm in his composing and performances. Fonseca plays piano, Hammond organ, Moog, Wurlitzer, clavinet, among other keys and also sings. He is backed by Yandy Martinez Rodriguez (bass, backing vocals), Raul Herrera (drums, vocals) and Inor Sotolongo (percussion) and guests Gema 4 (vocals), Ibrahim Maalouf (trumpet on one song), Davey Suarez (vocals one song), Adel Gonzalez (congas) and Joe Lovano (sax on one song). A sweet sound with an occasional splash of funkiness. I regret that I am unable to find a sample from this release.
Champion Fulton & Cory Weeds – Dream A Little… (Cellar Live): Pianist and singer Champion Fulton and alto sax player Cory Weeds offer several standards, including “Dream A Little Dream Of Me”, “Fly Me To The Moon” and “”I Thought About You” and threw in an original from Fulton. She sings a few songs on this release that are very nice, but my favorite aspect of this release is the instrumental interplay between these fine players. The duo creates wonderful duos throughout. Click here to listen to the title song on this disc.
Ginetta’s Vendetta – Pocketful Of Cool (Kickin’ Wiccan Music): It’s not clear what the “Vendetta” is all about, but the “Pocketful of Cool” is right out front, whether Ginetta is singing songs like “Black Coffee” or schooling her audience on her original “All Choke & No Slide”. The players include Danny Walsh (tenor sax), Jon Davis (piano), Eric “The Big O” Halvorson (drums) and Beldon Bullock (bass). The covers range from Charlie Parker’s “My Little Suede Shoes”, Nat Adderley’s “Work Song” and Horace Silver’s “African Queen” to standards like “Fever” and “Come Rain Or Come Shine”. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Peter Hand Big Band – Hand Painted Dream (Savant): Composer/arranger/guitarist Peter Hand has been involved in a wide variety of musical endeavors from blues to big band. This appears to be his third release with a nine-piece band. Five of the nine pieces on offer are Hand originals. The rest of the songs are Hand’s presentations of Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite”, Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now”, Randy Weston’s “Berkshire Blues”, and John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C. / Cousin Mary”. There are a few shifts in the personnel from song to song but the overall presentation is smooth and tight. The players include Jay Brandford (alto and soprano sax, and flute); Bruce Williams (alto sax); Don Braden (tenor sax, flute); Ralph Lalama (tenor sax, clarinet); Kenny Berger (baritone, bass clarinet); Kevin Bryan, Eddie Allen, Valery Ponomarev, John Bailey (trumpets/flugelhorns); John Mosca, Sam Burtas, James Burton III (trombones); James Weidman (piano), Harve S (bass), Steve Johns (drums); Camille Thurman (guest vocal, tenor sax); and The Secret String Quartet with Jennifer Choi (leader, 1st violin). Click here to listen to a song on this disc.
New Mastersounds – Shake It (One Note Records): The New Mastersounds are back with an even purer New Orleans sound than in the past and it is a blast! The main group members are Eddie Roberts (guitar, tambourine); Joe Tatton (keys); Pete Shand (bass) and Simon Allen (drums) and the special guests – Mike Olmos (trumpet), Jason Mingledorff (tenor sax, flute) and… terrific vocals by Lamar Williams Jr.. Jeff Franca adds percussion on two songs. All songs are originals. If you go for laid back funky soulful songs, grab this release! A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Keith O’Rourke – Baritone Madness (Chronograph): Baritone Madness is breaking out with all sorts of wonderful sounds that are unique and wonderfully melodic! Keith O’Rourke, Pat Belliveau and Gareth Bane are wonderful players as a group and when trading off leads. Their rhythm section – Kodi Hitchinson (bass) and Tyler Hornby (drums) – play wonderfully in support as well. The disc offers a dozen songs, ten of which were composed by one or more of the baritones with the opening song Charlie Mingus’ “Moanin’” and the closer Jimmy Smith’s “Ready And Able”. Solid from beginning to end. It’s sure to catch your ear and keep you in a dancing mood. Click here to listen to samples of three songs on this disc.
Paulien – Live (Self-produced): Vocalist Paulien performed this set in Wilson Hall at Washington & Lee University in November, 2016. She was accompanied by Damien Groleau (piano), Royce Campbell (guitar), David Drubin (drums) and Chris Dammann (bass). Many of the songs are French standards, with “Night And Day”, ”I Will Wait For You” and “Autumn Leaves” being the only exceptions. The performance is beautifully rendered by the musicians and Paulien, with a special shout out to Groleau. Click here to listen to samples of all of the songs on this disc.
Wallace Roney – Blue Dawn – Blue Nights (HighNote): “Wallace Roney earned the admiration and respect of his colleagues and his elders since age 16. He has been an integral part of the band with Tony Williams, Ornette Coleman, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Walter Davis Jr., Herbie Hancock, Jay McShann, David Murray, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Curtis Fuller, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few. He was one of the few musicians in his generation who learned and perfected his craft directly from alliances with Jazz Masters. But his most important and meaningful relationship was with Miles Davis.
Wallace was mentored by Miles Davis after Miles heard him in 1983 at his birthday gala performance in Carnegie Hall. Their association peaked when Miles chose Wallace to share the stage at his historic performance in Montreux in 1991. After Davis died, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams and Roney banded together and toured the world in tribute. “My goal is to make the best music I can. I enjoy, listen and can play ALL types of music I filter my expression through the jazz experience.” (http://wallaceroney.com/about.php) This current release is a wonderful outing as well. Roney enjoys variety and picks material carefully so that even the songs of others sound fresh. The players on this disc are Emilio Modeste (tenor & soprano sax), Oscar Williams II (piano), Paul Cuffari (bass), Kojo Odu Roney and Lenny White (drums) and Quintin Zoto (guitar). Fantastic! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
