CD of the Month
2003 Selections
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December 2003 Actually, one surprise: the playing of Eric Alexander is more assured than on his past releases, less of a Young Lion and more confident, not as “eager” to be a seeming Sax Guy of Yesteryear – just listen to his gorgeous gentle-swaggering, Gene Ammons-tinged playing on “Minor Changes.” Also, when it comes to underrated piano players, there's Richard Wyands, who's so tasteful and right that it's easy to take him for granted. No startling surprises, sure, but like a good burger and fries combo from your favorite pub, this platter will satisfy the old-school bop (circa 1960's Prestige era) urges.
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While somewhat overshadowed by other drummer-titans of the post-bop era (Blakey, Haynes, Roach, Philly Joe), Jimmy Cobb was surely one of the archetypical (and most hardcore dependable) drummers of that epoch (1958-1967), playing w/ Miles' Kind of Blue band, Nancy Wilson and many others. Along w/ such as Barry Harris, Cobb - with his unflashy but crisp, certain swing - keeps the flames of straight-up bebop going. While the imaginatively titled Cobb's Groove offers little in the way of surprises, it'll likely please the Old Guard with their brand of relaxed bop.|
November 2003 Add Dr. Lonnie Smith on B-3, Melvin Sparks on guitar and Paul Humphrey on drums, and you've got two hard-swinging, burly saxophone voices backed by a rhythm section with decades of experience in deep groove, whether in swaying after-hours immediacy or a blues shuffle. Coast to Coast brings together two of the leading saxophonists of their generation, who, even after half a century in the business, maintain the fun of performing together or before an audience--which, after all, keeps them young.
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Red Holloway is recording again in one of the environments that he relishes: that of two saxophonists feeding ideas to each other and spurring one another to ever-rising heights of inspired dialogue. This time, Holloway has teamed with Frank Wess, who is just as accustomed to two-saxophone “battles” and complementary balladeering, even from the 1950's when he played in the Count Basie band with Frank Foster.|
October 2003 The results are scintillating, exciting big band jazz that leaps out of your speakers in full, glorious sound. The music is superbly crafted, with a plethora of good solos. Wilson has always kept a low profile. Using Duke Ellington as his role model, Wilson prefers sharing the limelight with members of the band and making statements through his compositions and arrangements rather than his instrument.
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Gerald Wilson, a Los Angeles based arranger, composer, bandleader and pianist, was born in 1918. He's been a part of the jazz world since 1939 when he began working for the great Jimmie Lunceford Band. New York, New Sound is a delightful recording Gerald recently made during a visit to The Big Apple. While there, Wilson enlisted some of the biggest names in jazz including Jimmy Heath on tenor saxophone, Frank Weiss on tenor sax and flute, Jesse Davis on Alto sax, Clark Terry on fluegelhorn and trumpet, Jon Faddis on trumpet, Benny Powell on trombone, and Kenny Barron on piano.|
September 2003 “Most of the songs are about the moment you're ready to fall in love, and the record features one of my loves, my trio—up-close and personal,” says Reeves. “I've had great groups over the years, but there is really something special playing with Peter, Reuben and Greg. We've worked together for so long that sometimes all it takes is a look to make the music come alive—and this record captures the magic between us.” Besides the inspired trio, the album also features appearances by trumpeter Nicholas Payton and guitarist Romero Lubambo.
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Following her Grammy-winning orchestral album The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves wished to return to a simpler, all-acoustic setting. So in December 2002, Reeves entered Right Track studios in New York City with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones) to record A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of ten tunes featuring her touring trio: pianist Peter Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson.|
August 2003 Instead of the meditative tempo the song is known for, he adds a Stevie Wonder harmonic influence on the interlude after the bass and piano to take the predictability out of the song. On "Errolling," he pays homage to the great pianist Erroll Garner. "Flipper" is a melody that offers fun and simplicity. Cyrus Chestnut is an excellent improviser, composer, arranger and pianist. With You Are My Sunshine, his virtuosity continues to shine just as radiantly.
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Cyrus Chestnut offers his listeners joy, inspiration, and a different approach to some classic material on You Are My Sunshine. This recording differs from Soul Food, his 2001 chart-topper, in that he digs deeper into the blues, gospel, and jazz traditions. Chestnut also uses his influences in a collective arrangement rather than using each influence separately. For example, on "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," Chestnut alters this gospel piece to form a New Orleans sound.|
July 2003 While his gifts as an arranger and engineer are on full display here, Sandoval's instrument is the album's true star. From ragtime-inspired riffing on Bix Beiderbecke's "At The Jazzland Ball" to the fragile grace of Chet Baker's "My Funny Valentine" (which also features a lilting Sandoval vocal), or the crisp, flawless reading of Tartini's "Concerto in D Major,' Sandoval's range and authority as a trumpet player are unmatched. "I admire and respect all of those trumpet players," Sandoval says. "They are heroes, my heroes, and every trumpet player's heroes. It was nice to pay tribute to all of them in one record."
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'Trumpet Evolution' the new album by Grammy and Emmy winning trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval. The 19 tracks on this album were chosen personally by Sandoval in tribute to some of his favorite trumpet players - from early jazz pioneers such as King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, to his own mentor Dizzy Gillespie, Mexican composer Rafael Mendez, and classical players Timofei Dokschizer and Maurice Andre. Individually each of 'Trumpet Evolution''s tunes is its own musical time capsule; taken as a whole the album is a definitive chronicle of the instrument in the 20th Century and beyond. Sandoval went to great pains to achieve his vision for 'Trumpet Evolution.' After transcribing each tune by ear, he chose different musicians, recording facilities and techniques according to the sound, era and emotional resonance each track evokes. Sandoval enlisted executive producer Quincy Jones to help steer the project, and he re-created each tune with the blessing of the original artists or their surviving family members.|
June 2003 Propelling a tightly knit sextet from behind his congas, Barretto casts his eye on tunes once associated with Blakey or influenced by the sound of his influential Jazz Messengers ensembles. Four terrific Wayne Shorter pieces and a Lee Morgan tune are featured, as well as a boppish take on “Frère Jacques.” Throughout the proceedings, the septuagenarian Barretto sounds as fresh and energized as his younger crew, which includes such enthusiastic and able players as trumpeter John Bailey, saxophonist Miguel Zenon, and pianist Luis Perdomo. Heartfelt and swinging.
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The legendary jazz drummer Art Blakey was a giant of rhythm. Conguero Ray Barretto is a looming figure himself, a linchpin of modern Latin music. The paths of these two master percussionists first crossed in the early 1950s, and they recorded together on Blakey's Holiday for Skins in 1958. Barretto's tribute to Blakey mixes his Latin rhythmic spice into a steaming hard-bop groove.|
May 2003
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Telarc captures pianist Benny Green and guitarist Russell Malone live at Jazz at the Bistro during a four-night stand in the summer of 2002. The recording is dedicated to the memory of the late jazz bassist Ray Brown. The CD is recorded in Direct Stream Digital to place you front-row center of a most memorable engagement in the "Gateway To The West", St. Louis.|
April 2003
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Brainstorm is Keith Oxman's fifth recording for the Capri label. Since his last release, Hard Times, Keith's life has changed, but his love of jazz has remained constant. In preparing for this session he wrote six original tunes, inspired by family and friends, with the rest of the quartet contributing their ideas and artistry. These songs are combined with some popular favorites to deliver an impressive, cohesive flow of music, rolling from uptempo blues into gentle waves.|
March 2003
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In recent years Stefon Harris has established himself as the most important and most creative vibraphonist of his generation. He's proven himself to be a master of the instrument as well as a talented composer and bandleader. The Grand Unification Theory, a sweeping 70-minute epic of bright swing, indelible groove, dreamy balladry as well as pockets of music tinged with Latin, African and Classical influences.|
February 2003
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This 11-track cd displays the musical legacy of one of New Orleans' most talented families. The patriarch of the Marsalis Family – Ellis Marsalis – shows off everything he taught his sons, Branford, Delfeayo, Jason and Winton.|
January 2003 While you have come to expect Flora's sublime recordings of Brazilian songs she is unafraid, in fact supremely confident in her ability to interpret songs written by American composers…Witness the title cut as composed by longtime friend Wayne Shorter. Flora is wonderful, the band is superb the music is great It's you January cd of the month.
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In the past few years Flora has been recording with the Narada World label and it has proven to be a wonderful partnership. Her past two releases had been nothing short of excellent and this most recent recording even surpasses them.
