New Jazz Adds – 10/16/2018
New Jazz Adds – 10/16/2018
Ben Allison – Quiet Revolution (Self-produced): Ben Allison (bass), Steve Cardenas (acoustic guitar) and Ted Nash (tenor sax, clarinet) have decided to stage their own quiet revolution and they certainly have the subtle cool to pull it off. They selected a half dozen Jim Hall compositions, sprinkled in two Jimmy Giuffre’s, added one special number from each member of the group and still had room for the “Love Theme From Spartacus”! The resulting disc is gentle, flowing and certainly honors the quiet revolution that Giuffre and Hall accomplished themselves. Really fine. Click here to listen to “Pony Express” composed by Jimmy Giuffre and performed on this disc.
Tony Bennett & Diana Krall – Love Is Here To Stay (Verve): Veteran jazz singers Tony Bennett and Diana Krall take on the Great American Songbook as created by George and Ira Gershwin and lyrics by George DeSylva on two songs. The Bill Charlap Trio, including Charlep (piano), Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums), provides the musical backing. Each singer gets a solo as well: Krall on “But Not For Me” and Bennett on “Who Cares?”. Both singers show a little voice wear, but time does march on. It’s hard to imagine that Krall is 53 and Bennett is 92. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Randy Brecker & Mats Holmquist – Together (Mama): Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn) hooks up with composer/arranger Mats Holmquist and the UMO Jazz Orchestra for a rousing program of nine songs including five he composed and arrangements of three of Chick Corea’s originals and one other ballad. Brecker is in terrific form and could seemingly blow down a mountain. The rest of the band includes Teemu Mattsson, Timo Paasonen, Mikko Pettinen, Tero Saarti and Janne Toivonen (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jakob Gudmundsson (trumpet); Ville Vannemaa (alto, soprano sax, clarinet); Mikko Makinen (alto, soprano sax, clarinet, flute); Teemu Salminen (tenor sax, clarinet); Max Zenger (tenor sax, flute); Pepa Paivinen (bari sax, flute); Heikki Tuhkanene, Mikko Mustonen, and Juho Viljanen (trombone); Mikael Langbacka (bass trombone); Mikel Ulfberg (guitar); Seppo Kantonen (piano); Juho Kivivuori (bass); and Markus Ketola (drums). It’s powerful group and Brecker holds his own and then some! Click here to listen to and watch the performance of “All My Things” from this disc.
Jakob Bro – Bay Of Rainbows (ECM): Electric guitarist / composer Jakob Bro has numerous releases to his credit. This performance was recorded live with an audience. Bro’s slightly echoed style is central, yet his full and partially distorted tone is truly commanding when he uses it (“Dug”). Bro is accompanied by Thomas Morgan (double bass) and Joey Baron (drums). The performance is engaging and beautiful. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Jeff Decker – Blue Wave (Self-produced): It has been a long while since Jeff Decker has offered a disc showcasing his terrific tenor sax drive and style, but we are lucky enough to be catching his “blue wave” of new compositions and cruising style. He is responsible for all of the songs and arrangements on this release and they are mighty fine. Decker is joined by Anthony Dowd (piano), Randall Pharr (bass) and Aaron Binder (drums) with vocalist Madeline Holly Sales adding her wonderful vocals on three songs. The chemistry among these players is fantastic! This disc is a joy throughout. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Erik Deutsch – Falling Flowers (LoHi): “Current Leftover Salmon keyboardist and frequent collaborator in the live music scene, Erik Deutsch, has released his sixth solo studio album…Falling Flowers…. Deutsch rounded out his band for the album with a few of his longtime friends and frequent collaborators, including Mike McGinnis (saxophone and clarinet), Brian Drye (trombone), Avi Bortnick(rhythm guitar), Jesse Murphy (bass), and Tony Mason (drums). Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist Scott Metzger plays lead guitar on “Falling Flowers” and “Big Bongos”, while Andy Thorn, Deutsch’s Leftover Salmon bandmate and banjo wizard, contributes to “Falling Flowers” and “Ghostfeather”…. Falling Flowers has elements of classic and contemporary jazz, rock, blues, and funk, all intertwined into one, with Erik’s playful and ferocious work on the piano bringing it all together.” (https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/erik-deutsch-falling-flowers-listen/) That really captures the style and impact of the band meaning that there is undoubtedly something here to please everyone. At the same time, some songs will likely have more drawing points than others. There certainly are connections to the music of New Orleans. When this crew jumps, they jump well! Click here and scroll down until you mind the track list for “Falling Flowers” and click on the titles to hear samples of the songs on this disc.
Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band – Presence (Smoke Sessions): “Founded in late 2009, Captain Black was conceived as a vehicle for Evans to combine the power and scale of a big band with the freedom and spontaneity of a small group. From its beginnings at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Evans’ native Philadelphia through its long-running Monday night residency at New York’s Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, the band has evolved into just that — a flexible and tightrope-walking unit whose daring approach lends the music an exhilarating edge.” (http://www.orrinevansmusic.com/Captain-Black-Big-Band.html) This is the third release by this aggregation, now widely recognized as a front running jazz band anywhere. The band’s players are Caleb Curtis and Todd Bashore (alto sax); Troy Roberts (tenor sax), John Raymond, Josh Lawrence and Bryan Davis (trumpets); David Gibson, Stafford Hunter and Brent White (trombones); Orrin Evans (piano); Madison Rast (bass); and Anwar Marshall and Jason Brown (drums). Evans seeks challenge as well as an opportunity to make his audiences think deeply about the impact and messages in jazz. As they have grown into a front line jazz band, they have earned equal recognition with their founder and his penchant for risk-taking, robust expression, and independent vision. This is essential listening. It is also a live recording. Click here to listen to short samples of the songs on this disc.
Jeb Patton – Tenthish, Live In New York (Cellar Live): Pianist Jeb Patton is well respected as a talented and highly fluid pianist. He began traveling with Jimmy Heath’s band as soon as he graduated from college and they have had a steady relationship ever since. Patton’s current trio includes David Wong (bass) and Rodney Green (drums). Patton composed two of the songs on this disc, with the remainder largely from the great American songbook, including songs by Ellington, Strayhorn, and other notable jazz players. This is a live recording and the energy is palpable throughout the set. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Terell Stafford – Family Feeling (BCM+D): The family referred to in the title are six members of the music faculty at Temple University. This release is a recording of original compositions by Bruce Barth (composer, piano) and his colleagues Terell Stafford (trumpet), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Tim Warfield ((teor sax), David Wong (bass) and Byron Landham (drums). The tributes specifically name McCoy Tyner and John Coltrane and Terell Stafford, but the styles and camaraderie makes everything clear that this Philadelphia faculty is a family. The compositions and the performances are solid throughout. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Various Artists – Ice On The Hudson (SMK Jazz): This project brought together composer/pianist Renee Rosnes and lyricist David Hadju each of whom were taken with crossing stage tunes or lyrics with jazzy music or perhaps re-connecting with the bond of the old days of Tin Pan Alley. The works themselves are brand new and some are clever and some straight. The singers include Rene Marie, Janis Siegel, Darius de Haas and Karen Oberlin, with instrumental backing ranging from two musicians to a capella. Instrumentalists are Steve Wilson (alto or soprano sax), Ken Peplowski (clarinet), Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Erik Friedlander (cello) and or Rogerio Boccato (percussion). Click here and scroll down looking to the right to listen to some songs from this disc.
Randy Waldman – SuperHeroes (BFM Jazz): “Five years in the making, SUPERHEROES features the stellar rhythm section of pianist RANDY WALDMAN, drummer VINNIE COLAIUTA and bassist CARLITOS DEL PUERTO, who are joined by jazz luminaries including CHICK COREA, WYNTON MARSALIS, STEVE GADD, RANDY BRECKER, EDDIE DANIELS, GEORGE BENSON, JOE LOVANO,ARTURO SANDOVAL, CHRIS POTTER, and the vocal group TAKE 6. Waldman re-arranged theme music from his favorite superhero movies and TV shows, transforming them into fun, accessible, and exciting jazz tunes. Waldman got the idea for this project a few years ago when he had the good fortune to be seated at an event next to actor Adam West, the original TV Batman. “We talked a lot about music,” relates Waldman. “Adam loved jazz, and the thought occurred to me that he was an actual jazz superhero. That surprising and unexpected conversation stayed in the back of my mind for years.” That chance encounter percolated in Randy’s mind, and inspiration came like a bolt out of the blue. He would make a CD of superhero theme music played by some of his jazz superheroes!” In addition to Batman, thrill to the sounds of Superman, Mighty Mouse, The Incredible Hulk, the Six Million Dollar Man, X-Men, Underdog and Super Chicken! It’s a SUPER release! Click here for a promo, but kids, make sure you ask your mom or dad before actually watching!
Doug Webb – Fast Friends (Posi-Tone): This is sax player Doug Webb’s eighth release on Posi-Tone and he seems to be in a jumping and swinging mood throughout. He wrote four of the eleven songs on this disc and one of his originals is “Dease Things”, dedicated to trombonist Michael Dease who is also playing on this set and returned the favor by offering an original of his own entitled “Dig Doug”. The other members of the group are Mitchel Forman (piano), Chris Colangelo (bass) and Roy McCurdy (drums). The band covers one very oldie, Julie Styne’s “The Things We Did Last Summer”; honors two bop greats – Dizzy (“A Night In Tunisia”) and Charlie Parker (“Ah-Leu-Cha”) and spends most of the rest of the set covering great songs by Hank Mobley, Lee Konitz and some lesser knowns. The group plays quite well together. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
