The quartet of Peter Erskine (drums), George Garzone (tenor saxophone), Alan Pasqua (piano), and Derek Oles (bass) set up shop at Sam First, a new Jazz club near LAX in Los Angeles, CA, for a three-night gig (January 17-19, 2019). They played two sets each night, performing material ranging from originals to standards, repeating some of the pieces from set to set (but never repeating themselves), and generally thrilling an audience with high-powered and melodic straight-ahead jazz. Since all four musicians are veterans of the music scene as well as friends, the resulting music is fresh and fun.
"3 Nights In L.A." (Fuzzy Music) is a document of the quartet's musical adventures. The album comes in a three-disc set or as one big download. At nearly three-and-a-half hours, the best way to enjoy the music is one set at a time. Garzone, who first came to critical notice as a member of The Fringe, the Boston, MA-based trio, that was adventurous in its approach to improvised music. He's also teaches at Berklee College and has been on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and NYU (among others). It's quite a treat to hear him stretch out on these songs. Bassist Oles, who was born in Poland and had a busy career from his teenage years on, moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to study with Charles Haden and, over the years, has not only become first call musician but a faculty member at the University of California/Irvine. Pasqua is also a very busy musician with a list of credits that boggles the mind. For good reason – he can play in may different styles and "sound" like himself. As for Erskine, he's been playing, teaching, and recording since joining the Stand Kenton Orchestra in 1972. By the end of that decade, he was in the drum chair of Weather Report. Erskine has appeared on over 700 albums and, like Pasqua, is on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at USC.
About the album, the best review is that you hear four master musicians having fun. They swing, rock, squall (at times), dance, know how to caress a melody (Garzone's "To My Papa" is a splendid example as is Pasqua's "Agridolce"), and absolutely settle for the cliche. Dig their version of John Coltrane's "Equinox"; the harp-like showers of notes from the piano, the bluesy beat of Oles and Erskine, and Garzone's powerful solo, all add up to an impressive piece of music.
"3 Nights In L.A." is an album to savor. The lovely sound, the intelligent chair of material, and the fine musicianship, not at all surprising when you think of George Garzone, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, & Derek Oles and their impressive body fo work. Dig into this sumptuous recording – you'll enjoy the many directions the band takes and where the music ultimately goes.
The recording's US release date is August 16 but the digital album was issued in mid-July.
Photo: Rob Blackham
Late last year (11/18), tenor saxophonist and composer Josephine Davies released her third album as a leader. "In the Corners of Clouds" (Whirlwind Recordings) is the second recording of her trio, a group that features her regular bassist Dave Whitford and newest addition, drummer James Maddren. Ms. Davies, a native of the Shetland Islands and now a resident of London, England, is a busy musician, working in several large ensemble and leading two other projects besides the Trio, now known as Satori after the group's 2017 Whirlwind album.
Ms. Davies has created a sound that shows off both her melodies as well as her penchant for getting everyone involved. There are moments when the sound of this trio reminds me of alto saxophonist Bernie McGann's 2000 "Bundeena" – a touch of blues, of folk music, music that is a conversation between the participants and not just soloing over the rhythm section. There's also a touch of the classic John Coltrane Quartet, especially the less frenetic work that that group did in the studio up to "A Love Supreme." "The Space Between Thoughts" is a soulful ballad with sparse bass work and whisper-soft brush work plus a melody "sung" by the saxophone. Ms. Davies takes her time moving through the melody, with an easy transition into her solo. Whitford's fine bass solo is short and melodically rich. The track is one of the two tracks under five minutes on the album but feels complete in its brevity. The other "shorter" piece is the album closer "Scattered", notable for the saxophone-bass dialogue in the solo section.
The dancing twists-and-turns of "Wabi-Sabi", with its Arabic-sounding curlicues and powerful percussion, opens the album (hear below) and one is immediately caught up in the works this trio creates. The title track has a tinge of Sonny Rollins's "Way Out West" in the percussion but it's Ms. Davies' melody that stands out. Her subtle solo blends soft and harder tones, pushed forward by the active rhythm section. She overdubs a second tenor saxophone to create harmony and counterpoint on "Lazy", a song that lopes along on the dancing bass lines and the "click-clack" of the drumsticks.
This review of "In the Corners of Clouds" may have been percolating in my consciousness for the past nine months mostly because the music does not shout (most of the time) or make bold statements. Instead, the listener is seduced by the melodies, by the rich solos, by the saxophone tone that can be soft yet hard-edged when the music calls for it, and, finally, for the excellence of the rhythm section. Josephine Davies – in her guise as the leader of Satori – makes music for the soul, illustrating the many directions the creative mind can go.
I look forward to hearing more music from Ms. Davies, including from her Big Band. For more information, go to www.josephinedavies.co.uk.
Here's the opening track:
Tenor saxophonist Rich Halley, born, raised, and still living in Portland, Oregon, is in the midst of a long and exciting career. He attended the University of Chicago in the mid-1960s, coming in contact with various blues artists as well as the AACM. He moved back home in 1968 and has played many types of music even as he he worked on his Masters Degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico. Musically, he has played and/or recorded with multi-reed player Vinny Golia, trumpeter Bobby Bradford, trombonist Michael Vlatkovich, trumpeter Rob Blakeslee, and bassist Michael Bisio (among others). Over the past decade, he has led and continues to lead bands that feature his son Carson Halley on drums and bassist Clyde Reed (who has worked with the saxophonist since early in the new century). Since 2001, Halley has released his music on his own Pine Eagle Records label.
In August of 2018, the saxophonist was in the New York City area and recorded "Terra Incognita" (Pine Eagle) in Brooklyn with pianist Matthew Shipp, drummer Newman Taylor Baker, and the afore-mentioned Michael Bisio (a long-time friend). While the quartet has never recorded together before or even had a rehearsal before entering the studio, Halley had performed with the bassist when Bisio lived in Seattle and also played in a trio with him and drummer Baker. The album is quite apropos in the light of the information above because this music was an "unexplored territory" for the participants. Yet, their fearless approach to the session results in a delight-filled recording.
Photo: Rob Pyle
Readers of this and many other blogs or magazines know how creative the trio of Shipp, Bisio, and Baker are in the studio and in person. The drummer, in particular, has added quite a fascinating voice to that Trio and he is in fine "voice" on these six pieces. Baker adds such fascinating colors and rhythmic patterns to this music – o, he can burn with passion, as he does on "Centripetal" but make sure to listen to his sparse cymbal work on "The Elms." That track is a handsome ballad with lyrical piano and a falling melody line from the tenor. "The Opening" (yes, the first track) hits on all cylinders from the get-go with its rumbling, skittish, bass lines, rampaging drums, two-handed piano counterpoint (every once in a while, Shipp resembles McCoy Tyner from the 1970s), and Halley's powerful, impassioned, solo (he rarely records with a pianist these days). The playful "Forager" illustrates how these musicians listen and respond to each other. Baker locks in with Halley on his solo, responding to his power and the long melody lines. The splendid sound quality of the album (kudos to engineer Jim Clouse) makes all the instruments stand out (note the clarity on the bass solo). The final track, "The Journey", is the longest track (17:02) and it's quite a ride – be sure to catch Halley's great, blues-drenched, solo near the close.
"Terra Incognita", with all its twists, turns, and interactions, is worth exploring. This quartet certainly plays with great fire yet the fire does not always present itself as "noise" or "free" blowing. Rich Halley, Matthew Shipp, Michael Bisio, and Newman Taylor Baker are on a musical adventure – it's a joy to be part of their collaboration as well as their sonic explorations! Rich Halley should come East more often!
Pianist and composer Lafayette Gilchrist has lived in the Baltimore-Washington D.C.-area all his life. He was raised listening to to rhythm 'n' blues and "go-go" music, both styles which inform his playing to this day. He has toured and recorded with saxophonst David Murray plus has worked alongside Oliver Lake, Cassandra Wilson, bassist Michael Formanek, and many others. Several of his compositions have been used on the soundtracks of HBO's "TheWire" and "Treme", both shows created by David Simon. Currently, Gilchrist leads several ensembles including The New Volcanoes and the Sonic Trip Masters All Stars.
"Dark Matter" is his second solo piano album, the first being 2013's "The View From Here"; both released on the pianist's Creative Differences label. The new album, recorded live in September of 2016 on the stage of Wright Theater/University of Baltimore, is a joy from the opening cut, "For The Go-Go", a rollicking celebration of this attractive dance music, to the blues-soaked refections of "Greetings", which brings the album to a close. Throughout the album, the pianist shows his sense of humor as well as the dramatic side of the stories he weaves. "Happy Birthday Sucka" could easily have been played at a Harlem "rent party" (in the part of New York City that bears the name or the Harlem Park section of Baltimore) – the piece dances forward on the power of Gilchrist's left hand and the short melodic phrases and rolling lines flowing from the right (dig the touch of New Orleans that comes in 2/3rds of the way through).
There are moments when the music has the feel of the work of "Jelly Roll" Morton, especially the "Spanish tinge" that often colored his songs. The earthiness of the title track cries out for lyrics (a previous recording with the New Volcanoes does have a vocal) – in fact, a number of these songs have been recorded by Gilchrist's large ensembles. "Spontaneous Combustion" originally appeared on 2013's "Inside Out" with its insistent drive assisted by the propulsive bass lines and the "popping" conga drums. On the newer solo version, the piece has an introspective opening with hints of the dancing bass line that once it takes over, the song goes into overdrive.
There is a poignant and urgent nature to "Blues for Our Marches to End" that is breath-taking as well as emotionally shattering. Put into perspective, there have been numerous marches since the Black movement towards equality in the United States began long ago. While the marches have raised consciousness around the world, they remain dangerous (most recent example is Charlottesville but, recently, the fear of violence hangs over each demonstration). The instrumental does not preach but it certainly teaches. Other pieces, such as "Childs Play", "Black Flight", and "Old Whale Bones", are contemplative and quite melodic though there is a solid dancing rhythm (and that hints of "Spanish tinge) to the first track listed.
Lafayette Gilchrist keeps the listener engrossed all the way through "Dark Matter", reminding one of the power of one piano, of melodies built to be sung as well as to let soak into your soul. Hard to put down, played with a sense of joy and desire, this music will take you out of the ordinary and into a space that is quite open and hopeful.
There is an immediacy in a live performance – even if the musician is in deep concentration, he or she is usually aware of those who are looking, coughing, applauding, and asleep. Even if the musician never looks, there should be the awareness that someone else is in the room. But, when it's a solo or a duo performance in a large auditorium, there can be the feeling of intimacy.
The recording studio is a different animal. The musician or musicians are there for the sound, can dive deeper inside one's self with the knowledge that there usually is a second, third, or fourth take (more, if need be). The feedback is often subtler and there can an intimacy and, hopefully, a trust that allows the musician(s) today as deeply as they choose. Unlike the applause at a live concert, the feedback comes later in the form of reviews, online critiques, letters, and more.
Photo: Jordan Kleinman
The duo of pianist/ vocalist Kevin Hays and guitarist/ vocalist Lionel Loueke went into the studios in 2016 for the vinyl-only Newvelle Records, producing "Hope", an album that surpassed even the artists in its intimacy and acoustic splendor. Loueke, who often records with electric guitars and numerous pedals, eschewed all of his equipment save for the acoustic guitar. Each armed with a collection of compositions, the duo chose four pieces each and the subsequent album was issued in July of 2017 as part of the label's 2017 "editions." Critical response was quite positive but, due to the cost of the vinyl subscription as well as the first-class artwork, the album did not reach many listeners. There is a video online from the sessions that is certainly worth watching – go to www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=bkNGtwlQHI8 to do just that.
On August 30, 2019, Edition Records is releasing "Hope" on CD and digital platforms. Not only has the CD been remastered but there are also three additional tracks. Plus, the duo is going on a two-week European tour to celebrate the re-release. Now we all can hear the glorious interactions, the intelligent playing, the heartfelt vocals, the intimacy of the music. Highlights include the opening "Violeta", a piece the pianist wrote to honor Chilean singer Violeta Parra(1917-1967). The bounce in the rhythm guitar, the wordless vocal (complete with "clicking" sounds), and the wide-ranging piano melody is so attractive, so rhythmical. "Feuilles-O" is a traditional Haitian melody that the pianist sings in its original patois. The piece has a lovely, classical, feel plus a melody line that is so evocative and emotional.
Photo: Jordan Kleinman
Loueke's "Aziza Dance" has its roots in the myths of the composer's native Benin – the music is alluring with its propulsive forward motion, catchy melody, and fine solos from both musicians. The guitarist also composed "Twins" which opens with such a fine melody line before dropping into such an alluring rhythm. The piano ripples along above the percussive guitar, suggesting Keith Jarrett.
Of the three "added" tracks, Loueke's "Ghana Boy" not only feels like an African dance piece but also suggests the Caribbean in its percussion. Not certain who composed the final track "Sweet Caroline" but Hays handles the vocal (the lyrics do not sound like the Neil Diamond song of the same name) so it's a good bet that the pianist is the writer). There's quite a pleasant blues feel to the track and, of course, the musicianship is top-notch.
"Hope" is an appropriate title for this excellent album from Kevin Hays & Lionel Loueke. The two musicians travel the world performing music with various ensembles, speaking to many musicians and audience members. And, to get by in an increasingly insane world, one needs hope more than ever. Peace often looks unattainable but there is always the hope that we will pay attention to our "better intentions", sitting down to talk, to eat, and perhaps, make music. At least, we should take the time to listen to those voices crying for attention. Also, take the time to listen to this music – you cannot help but smile, tap your feet, and enjoy the journey.
This is a thrilling time of the summer for me in that I have time before school starts again to listen and to write. On top of that, I have a slew of large ensemble albums to dig into.
Arranger, composer, conductor, and alto saxophonist Ed Palermo (pictured left) has had quite a career. He has worked and toured with many artists including Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Lou Rawls, and The Spinners He has written and arranged for the Tonight Show as well as dancer Maurice Hines. Since 1997, he and his Big Band have been performing and recording music by Frank Zappa. Of the eight albums he has released over the past two decades, only two not have music by the late Zappa. One more splits the program between Zappa and Todd Rundgren. He has won international praise not only for his inventive arrangements but also for exposing a larger audience to this music.
Photo: Hugh Brennan
Album #9 by the EPBB, "A Lousy Day In Harlem" (self-released), turns the spotlight on Palermo's compositions plus delightful interpretations of pieces by Duke Ellington, Egberto Gismonti, Gigi Gryce, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and the duo of Renee Rosnes and Walt Weiskopf. The 15-piece ensemble is in fine form throughout and there are a number of powerful solos including several by Mr. Palermo. The album opens with "Laurie Frink", the leader's piece dedicated to the late trumpeter and teacher. Despite the presence of three fine trumpeters (see personnel below), the solos are by soprano saxophonist Phil Chester and tenor saxophonist Bill Straub. Dig the splendid rhythm section work under the soloists especially pianist Bob Quaranta and drummer Ray Marchica. There's a splendid rearrangement of Gisberti's "Sanfona" including Zappa-like sounds in the harpsichord/keyboard of Ted Kooshian. Chester's soprano solo is quite sweet over the steady rhythms. "Brasilliance" is a spirited romp through Mr. Ellington's tune that he wrote for his "Latin American Suite" (1968). Great solo from pianist Quaranta before the piece takes a quick turn into Juan Tizol's "Caravan" for solos from trumpeter John Bailey and saxophonist Straub. The entire band plays hard on the delightful "Minority", the Gigi Gryce classic. The saxophone section plays the melody and the brass join on the second time through. The leader steps out for a spirited solo and then does a call-and-response with the sections. Monk's "Well You Needn't" jumps out of the gate and features solos by the leader once more, trombonist Charley Gordon, and trumpeterBailey – The arranger manages to throw in quotes from several other Monk tunes; all that and more in 3:02. Tenor saxophonists Straub and Ben Kono introduce Coltrane's "Giant Steps" with the opening lines of "Dueling Banjos" (from "Deliverance") before the band leaps into the piece. The tenorists each get a spotlight but don't miss the excellent electric bass work of Paul Adamy.
Regarding the Palermo originals, they are all impressive. "Like Lee Morgan" celebrates the fine trumpeter from the 50s and 60s – this time, trumpeter Bailey gets to step out for the fine solo. Tap dancer Nicki Denner joins the EPBB for a spirited dance on "The One With The Balloon", an evocative melody that also makes room for a solo from trombonist Gordon and a touch of accordion from Kooshian. Soprano saxophonist Cliff Lyons is featured throughout the sweet ballad-waltz "Affinity" though the brass and then the reeds get to play the handsome melody as well.
"A Lousy Day In Harlem" is Ed Palermo's satirical title take on the famous 1958 Art Kane photograph – click here – that featured nearly five dozen jazz greats and some neighborhood kids sitting on those very steps. But the music from the Ed Palermo Big Band is no laughing matter unless you're laughing at such delightful and audacious music. Put the disc on play, turn the volume up loud, and watch the party start! For more information, go to www.palermobigband.com.
Personnel: Reeds: CLIFF LYONS - alto sax, clarinet, soprano sax on “Affinity” PHIL CHESTER - alto sax, soprano sax, flute, piccolo BILL STRAUB - tenor sax, clarinet, flute BEN KONO - tenor sax, flute, oboe BARBARA CIFELLI - baritone sax, bass clarinet, Eb mutant clarinet
Trumpets: RONNIE BUTTACAVOLI (lead) JOHN BAILEY STEVE JANKOWSKI
Trombones: CHARLEY GORDON (lead) MIKE BOSCHEN MATT INGMAN (bass trombone)
Drums: RAY MARCHICA
Electric Bass: PAUL ADAMY
Piano: BOB QUARANTA
Keyboard: TED KOOSHIAN all arrangements by ED PALERMO (who also plays alto sax on several tracks) Here's the Ellington/Tizol mix:
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, composer, conductor, and arranger Jaelem Bhate has been making a name for himself in both the jazz and classical spheres. He's now the assistant conductor of the Vancouver Philharmonic after spending 2018 as assistant conductor of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada under Maestro Boris Brott. His classical training includes work in New York City and Oregon plus Bhate just completed his Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of British Columbia. He also leads the Last Call Jazz Collective and has composed works for a large ensemble. Judging by the amount of work he has taken on, the young man seems comfortable with his feet in both musical worlds.
Bhate's debut recording, "On The Edge" (self-released), features an 18-member ensemble made up of musicians from Western Canada many of whom have worked with the composer in the Last Call Collective and all who are busy playing and teaching. The centerpiece of the album is the four-part, 29-minute, "Pacific Suite", a celebration of the composer's life in British Columbia. "Part I: Straits and Narrows" is a lively evocation of life in the edge of the North American continent with the melody and harmony shared by the reeds and brass while Andrew MacDonald (piano), Jacques Forest (bass), especially Duran Ritz (drums) pushes the music forward. Forest's unaccompanied opens "Part II: Weeping Skies" – his phrases remind this listener of Charlie Haden. The piano and guitar (Ricardo Halabi) enter next and then the entire band enters playing the handsome melody. "Part III: Uninhabitation" opens with a somber brass chorale before a lovely ballad takes shape – one can picture the composer deep in the forests of the Province listening to the quiet all around him. The closing section, "Sea of Glass", has a bluesy feel, a lively shuffle rhythm, and sweet melody line before moving into the solo section.
The other pieces on the album each have standout moments. Guitarist Halabi gets to strut his stiff on "Strung Along" as the band digs into the blues-rock feel. "Wishful Thinking" has a delightful alto sax solo (unidentified) and impressive sectional writing. The lovely mix of reeds and brass usher in the sweet ballad "When I Was Loved", a song that also features an emotional trumpet melody and it's that trumpeter (possibly Michael Kim) who leads the way through the piece. One can hear the influence of Thad Jones on this piece. From the exciting title track that opens the album to the uptempo lullaby "You Will Be Ok" that closes it, "On The Edge" is an impressive statement from a young composer who is just beginning to find his voice. That written, this debut recording from Jaelem Bhate illustrates his strengths as a composer and his excellent arrangements for the reeds and brass. For more information, go to www.jaelembhate.ca.
Personnel: Brent Mah, Mo Miao, Steve Kaldestad, Ardeshir Pourkeramati, Adam Kyle: saxophones Michael Kim, Jocelyn Waugh, Daniel Hersog, Silas Friesen: trumpets Kevin Jackson, Cam Henderson, Sean Lavigne, Sharman King, Louis Lam: trombones Andrew MacDonald: piano Ricardo Halabi: guitar Jacques Forest: bass Duran Ritz: drums Jaelem Bhate: compositions Here's one of the fine pieces on the album:
Historians believes that before early man created instruments, the first "music" was created by the voice. Perhaps these sentient beings heard the songs of the birds, the cooing of mothers with their babies by their side, or other forms of communications that had melodic and/or rhythmic qualities.
On a personal level, I was first attracted by the voices coming from the radio. Later I heard marching bands in parades and on local football fields: then and there, I realized the importance of the drums. Nowadays, I listen to the rhythm section first and, with music that features a vocalist, I listen to the melody first and then pay close attention to how the singer responds to his accompaniment (and vice versa).
Here are two new albums which are quite different yet both speak to the heart of the creators and listeners as well as to the soul of the listener.
Peter Eldridge (pictured left) is a vocalist, composer, arranger, pianist, and educator whose voice I find to be quite compelling and handsome. He was one of the founding members of New York Voices in 1988, has released seven solo albums as a leader since 2001, works on-and-off with the vocal quartet known as Moss, and is now on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music. He also travels to conduct workshops throughout the United States and internationally. Eldridge is currently in the midst of creating his first full-fledged musical that will tell the story of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918).
Pianist, composer, arranger, author, and educator Kenny Werner has been involved with the creative music for four decades. He has worked with so many musicians ranging from Toots Thielemans to Stan Getz to Dave Douglas to Pat Metheny to Mel Lewis and many others. As a leader, he has released over three dozen albums and has worked as a co-leader and sideman on so many others. He is also the author of "Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within" (Alfred Music), in which he offers struggling musicians (as well as other creative artists) who feel "stuck" and can't move forward. He, too, plays in venues and with groups throughout the United States and Europe. Now Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Werner have collaborated on "Somewhere" (Rosebud Music) – the program posits the vocalist (he plays piano on one track) in front of a quartet led by Werner (piano, electric piano, arrangements), Eugene Friesen (conductor, cello), Matt Aronoff (string bass), and Yoron Israel (drums) alongside the "Fantastical String Orchestra", a 19-member ensemble composed of violins, violas, cellos, string basses, and a harpist. If you are familiar with Eldridge's music, you know he's worked with strings before but has rarely recorded a collection of such lush orchestrations. Eldridge composed four of the tracks, adding lyrics to two others: Werner also composed four with one he also wrote the words for.
The album opens with the Eddy Arnold classic "You Don't Know Me." With the strings leading the voice in, this version hearkens back to the Ray Charles 1962 version but Eldridge does not channel the original but gives it his own spin. The title track is part of a medley in which the Bernstein classic (from "West Side Story") comes first and is a lovely, powerful, reading with just Werner's piano like a harp behind the voice: it's paired with "A Time For Love", composed by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster for the 1966 movie of the same name. Here, the voice is supported by the strings who sometimes serve as counterpoint but mostly create a lush backdrop for the lyrics. Eldridge created the lyrics for "Minds of Their Own", an Ivan Lins melody first recorded in 2004 by Nancy Wilson. There is not an overt Brazilian influence – instead, the piece sounds like a classic ballad of the 1940s and 50s.
The originals range from the sweet, introspective, "That Which Can't Be Explained" to the bluesy "Ballad For Trane." The latter track features a handsome tenor saxophone solo from George Garzone yet neither the song nor the tenor saxophone sound connected to John Coltrane (or, in the case of the vocalist, to Johnny Hartman. Nevertheless, the piece stands out for its melody line and the fine vocal. Eldridge's "Less Than Lovers" (with lyrics by Douglas Worth) is a ballad on the fence between love and hate with sweeping strings and splendid accompaniment from Werner on both acoustic and electric piano. The influence of Randy Newman can be heard on "Distinct", especially in Eldridge's parlor-room piano and the dancing strings.
The album closes with two fascinating pieces. Werner's "Untitled Lament" opens with the vocalist over the basic quartet then stops to allow a fantasia of strings to lead back into the pianist's reimagining of the melody. Then, it's solo piano that tells the story before the vocalist returns with the quartet now augmented by the string orchestra. It's a fascinating arrangement that leads into the final track, "Day Is Done (Prayer for Diego)". Eldridge sings his song at the top of his range with the band locked in with him plus the deep, sonorous, strings. Friesen's cello steps out for a solo – he sings along for a stretch, wordless lines that have a joyous quality. Werner follows with his own romp before the vocalist returns to finish his prayer.
"Somewhere" is lovely music, filled with passionate melodies, strong arrangements, and sympathetic musicianship. This is music that speaks to the heart, sings of love that goes beyond a person to a world of daily discovery, of hope, and understanding in times of despair. Peter Eldridge and Kenny Werner have made a recording which soothes the soul and stirs the imagination.
I first met percussionist, trap drummer, composer, and educator royal hartigan (he's always spelled his name sans capital letters) in the 1980s when he was working towards his Masters degree and PhD in world music and ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. This was after he had studied at University of Massachusett/ Amherst where his instructors included Max Roach, Archie Shepp, and Reggie Workman. While at Wesleyan, he studied with and played alongside teachers such as Bill Barron, Bill Lowe, master drummer Abraham Adzenyah, Ed Blackwell, and noted ethnomusicologist David McAllester. He often played in the Student Union with visiting artists and other students including saxophonist David Bindman and bassist Wes Brown.
hartigan went on to teach in New York City and San Jose State University, finally returning east to join the music faculty of UMASS/Dartmouth. He also has played with numerous artists including Kenny Barron, Clifford Jarvis, Fred Ho's Afro-Asian Music Ensemble, Rudresh Mahanthappa's Dakshina ensemble, and vocalist Dominique Eade. He also performed West African music alongside percussionist Martin Kwaakye Obeng, Helen Abena Mensah, and so many others here in the United Staes as well as in Ghana. He, along Bindman and Brown, became the royal hartigan ensemble and, along with guitarist Kevin McNeal recorded "Blood Drum Spirit" in 1993, released on CD in 2004 on Innova Recordings. The group added pianist Art Hirahara in 2003 and he appeared on 2008's "Live In China" (also on Innova).
"Time Changes", the group's third album and first to be credited to just Blood Drum Spirit, came out early in 2019. It's a sprawling two-CD set with 21 songs spread over 161+ minutes. With this much music, one is initially overwhelmed – you'll see that four of the pieces are over ten minutes long, six more are over seven minutes, and the rest range from 1:52 to 6 minutes. Where to begin? Start with track one, "Hits." The song literally introduces the band with the bass and percussion leading the way while the percussive piano plays beneath the tenor saxophone melody. You'll hear how the band uses dynamics to build and maintain its message. Bindman rides the waves of energy produced by Brown, hartigan, and Hirahara before the pianist enters ushered by a wave of cymbal splashes. One can hear influences of West African and Latin music in the rhythms and the early 60s John Coltrane Quartet in the energy and in the searching. Before th song comes to its close, everyone has had a chance to solo.
That leads into "Donna Notaso", Hartigan's talking drum and steady high-hat accompanied by a bluesy piano. Soon, the bass is setting a pace alongside the drummer and the tenor sax is building the melody. Note how the tempo changes as Hirahara steps out. The talking drum is in constant conversation with the bass and the soloists: the listener probably does not notice he or she are getting carried away by the exuberance of the music and its creators.
Photo: Sara Pettinella
As you continue through the program, you'll note that there are five solo drums tracks. First up is "Drum Solo for Clifford Brown/Lenny McBrowne/Max Roach/Clifford Jarvis/Ed Blackwell", a short (1:45) dance around the trap set. Next up is the "Fomtomfrom Suite" – four times as long as the first solo, hartigan sets up a hypnotic rhythm on his drums that hearkens back to his love for West African music. Basically, he's using three parts of his kit; the tom, a ride cymbal, and bass drum. Later in the piece, he adds the high hat but the music rarely varies. The appropriately-titled "Dancing on the Drums" is a hard-edged rhythmic romp (on brushes, no less). "Penteng" is short (1:52) but it rolls forward with an immediacy and excitement that is so attractive. The final solo piece is "Blues For Mister Charlie and Miss Ann": One might think that the piece is dedicated to Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy (one of his pieces had the title "Miss Ann") – in actuality, the piece is inspired by author and playwright James Baldwin and is the drummer's dedication to the Black victims of police violence. The piece is also inspired by Max Roach's "Triptych: Prayer, Protest, Peace" from his landmark 1960 album "We Insist: Freedom Now Suite."
Photo: Sara Pettinella
That last piece closes with a martial beat on the snare which leads into the next track, a 10 minute-plus exploration of W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." It's fun to hear the quartet (Bindman on soprano sax) swing with such glee with the drummer leading the way with his "parade" drums. After a powerful bass solo, Hirahara steps out with a barroom piano solo before the band returns and the piece goes in a slightly different direction. Suddenly, the tempo shifts once again, more of a Latin feel, and the piece picks up speed.
Photo: Sara Pettinella
CD 1 closes with a long exploration of Coltrane's "Naima", a piece with a series of strong solos and mood changes, talking drums and dancing piano riffs, bouncing bass and lovely solos from Hirahara and Bindman (tenor sax). CD 2 opens with the longest track on the program. "Circle of Creation/Adzohu Suite" is a multi-sectioned dance through several powerful melodies and shifting rhythms. Pay attention to the drummer's long solo (complete with vocalizations of the rhythm he is playing – that leads into a long, exciting, piano solo that resonates with a blend of American jazz and West African rhythms If you listen closely, you can really hear the interactions and connection of the rhythm section. Brown and hartigan have worked together for over three decades: they support each other, prod each other, and listen to the rest of the band. Bindman has been along for all those years and he, too, shares a special musical relationship. The pianist is the "new guy", 15 years, yet he, too, is an integral member of this working unit.
"Time Changes" refers to the different rhythms throughout this highly listenable album. Also, time always moves on and we change. What has not changed – if anything it's stronger – is Blood Drum Spirit and royal hartigan's dedication to, love for, and continual exploration of world music and how it is so much a part of jazz.
For more information, to listen, and to purchase), go to royalhartigan.bandcamp.com/releases. Check out the band's website – www.blooddrumspirit.com – for even more information. That will lead you to the documentary "We Are One", a movie about the quartet's trip to Ghana to teach, to collaborate with local musicians, and to connect and reconnect with master musicians and dancers. That can be found at www.weareonethemovie.com.
Give a listen to the quartet's take on the famous Eddie Harris composition:
The trio of Zach Brock (violin), Jon Deitmeyer (drums), and Matt Ulery (bass) has worked together in various larger groups and on recordings by both the violinist and bassist. But, never as a three-piece group: that is, until the last few years (the one exception is one track on Ulery's 2014 Greenleaf album "In the Ivory"). All three are composers and very busy sidemen with Brock playing with groups such as Snarky Puppy and bassist Stanley Clarke's band, Ulery playing in numerous ensembles throughout the Chicago area, and Deitmeyer with pianist/vocalist Patricia Barber and pianist Phil Markowitz.
The band's eponymous debut album, "Wonderment", is out now on bassist Ulery's Woolgathering Records. The 12-song program features four compositions by each member; yet, each piece plays to the strengths of the trio as an ensemble. Whether they are dancing delightfully (Deitmeyer's "Wokey Dokey") or creating a mysterious flow (Brock's title track) or negotiating a tricky rhythm ((Ulery's "Pumpkin Patch"), the music shines with creative interactions, well-drawn melodies, and fine solo moments. There is a full-out "rock" feel, thanks to Deitmeyer's solid drumming (he "kicks it" with such glee), on "Cry Face" and make sure to listen to how articulate and deep Ulery's bass lines sound on "Yge Bieve." Brock's blues and bluegrass sound comes to the fore on the lovely ballad "Cheyenne" – at times, the violin sounds like a voice singing a plaintive ballad.
The album closes with the high-spirited "Happy Place." Note Brock's strummed intro (sure sounds like a mandolin) and how he dances atop the funky rhythms during his solo. "Wonderment" indeed! And in fact. This music is a joy to behold from beginning to end. Playing with your friends is often great fun – to do just that in the studio is an impressive accomplishment. Enjoy this fine new CD from Zach Brock, Matt Ulery, and Jon Deitmeyer: if they are ever playing anywhere near you, go catch them in concert!!
In the months before and until the release of this album, the trio was known as Triptych. Here's the Trio live:
Alto and soprano saxophonist Jeremy Udden (pictured left) moved to Boston, MA, in the mid-1990s to study at the New England Conservtory of Music. Once there, he met, studied, and played with people such as saxophonists George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, and Allan Chase, pianists Fred Hersch and Paul Bley plus trombonist/ arranger Bob Brookmeyer. He also began a friendship and musical relationship with trumpeter John McNeil with whom he recorded three albums for Sunnyside Records. Udden also leads a group called "Plainville" that has recorded several albums for Fresh Sound New Talent and one for Sunnyside. He's recorded with the Either/Orchestra, pianist Frank Carlberg, Darrell Katz's Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra, and vocalist Amy Cervini.
While in France several years ago, Udden met bassist/synthesist Nicolas Moreaux and they recorded album of duets plus the "Belleville Project" with a sextet. The saxophonist returned in 2018 and worked in a trio setting with Moreaux and American-born drummer John Betsch now making his home in Paris. Udden chose 30 tunes to present to his band mates including a number of pieces by the late soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy (1934-2004) whom Betsch had played with for two decades. The resulting album, recorded over two days in August 2018, is aptly titled "Three in Paris" (Sunnyside Records) – the 10-sonh program features two Udden originals, a group improv, four pieces by Mr. Lacy plus one each from Duke Ellington, Don Cherry, and Jerome Moross. Moross's 1954 ballad "Lazy Afternoon" is a lovely vehicle for Udden's soprano sax, Moreaux's splendid counterpoint, and Betsch's smart brush work. And Ellington's "Azure" (first recorded by the Master in 1937) has a lovely Caribbean lilt with the soprano sax lines floating over the dancing drums and melodic bass lines.
The four Lacy compositions range from the alto sax-drums conversation titled "Who Needs It" to the playful "Prayer" during which Betsch moves in a sprightly fashion over his drum kit while Moreaux and Udden (still on alto sax) carry on a musical conversation. Even more playful is "Bone" where the drums and rapidly-walking bass lines propel the alto solo forward. Udden responds by feeding off that fire, moving "out" and away from the melody. The only Lacy tune played on soprano is "The Crust": again Udden is in conversation with Betsch only and they jauntily move through the piece as if they had not a care in the world.
"Three in Paris" just might take its cues from the fascinating cover photo by Alain Laboile ("L'orielle" is its title and is part of the French photographer's series "The Family"). The music is certainly playful, a bit mysterious at times, and should be enjoyed for the interactions, the abundant melodies, and the sweet sound that Jeremy Udden creates with his friends.
Drummer and composer Jeff Williams has a career that spans five decades. Having worked with Stan Gets, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, and Frank Kimbrough. For the past two decades, he's split his time between London and New York City and went back to recording as a leader (after a 16-year hiatus) when he signed in 2011with Whirlwind Recordings. Since then, he's released four albums, two with his NYC-based quartet and two with his British quintet. While the music sometimes hearkens back to his earlier recordings, his style of composing and playing has certainly become his own "sound."
Album number five is here: the meeting of musical minds came about when the drummer was in New York City in early 2018 playing in saxophonist Dan Blake's "The Digging." Blake had just replaced his pianist with Carmen Staaf and Williams felt an immediate musical kinship. On the same trip, he became reacquainted with bassist Michael Formanek who has met when the young musician moved to the City in the 1970s – six months later, the trio entered the Samurai Hotel Studios in Astoria, Queens, New York and the sessions yielded "Bloom" (Whirlwind). Each participant contributed compositions (Williams has four, Ms. Staaf three, and Formanek two) plus there's one group improvisation and a lovely reading of bassist Buster Williams's "Air Dancing" (first recorded by the composer with guitarist Larry Coryell in 1988 and than the following year on his own "Something More" album with pianist Herbie Hancock.
Much of the trio's music has a joie de vivre brought on by the sheer joy of playing together. Whether they are playing introspective slow pieces (such as Formanek's "Ballad of the Weak") or up-tempo "soft-shoe (the drummer's "She Can' Be a Spy") or Ms. Staaf's modal blues ("New York Landing"), the musicians are on the same wave length. Ms. Staaf, who co-leads a group with drummer Alison Miller and works with artists as diverse as vocalist Allegra Levy, klezmer clarinetist Michael Winograd, plus is musical director for Dee Dee Bridgewater, is a delightful player – she certainly can swing but also can produce long, flowing, phrases (as she does on Williams's "Another Time"). She certainly pays attention to details, listens closely to the rhythm section (as they do to her), ands builds her solos from a combination of melodic and rhythmic explorations. Her composition "Chant", which closes the program, is an atmospheric ballad with a truly enchanting melody, brilliant bowed-bass work, and Williams's orchestral cymbal colors.
Photo:Lester Barnes
Williams and Formanek shine throughout. Whether working together to push a piece forward (listen to what they play underneath the piano solo on "Short Tune") or making space for their own solos, they are always in sync. The bassist is known for his muscular playing plus he is a top-notch composer for ensembles large and small. Check out his Herbie Nichols-inspired "A Word Edgewise"where the song, anchored by his rapidly walking bass lines, always seems to be rushing forward ever-so-sightly out of control.
In a world with so many piano trio albums released every month, "Bloom" stands out on the strengths of its compositions and the excellent musicianship of Jeff Williams, Carmen Staaf, and Michael Formanek. Willams may be the leader and producer but this subtle, swinging, and singing album truly is a group effort.
There are hundreds of albums every year that seem to come and go. In the instance of the jazz world, unless the group is touring or gets a write-up in a major publication or has a "famous" name or two, the album is set aside to make room for the next recording. For some artists who spend years playing their trade in clubs and concert halls, it's not fun to be ignored. But that part of the business has always been there. You never know what will capture the fancy of listeners or when that might happen. Numerous artists have told that sell more recordings on gigs than through the internet or in the retail world.
The trio of pianist Chris Lomheim, bassist Michael O'Brien, and drummer Jay Epstein often worked together in the years before the bassist moved to NewYork City from the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul). All three are quite busy with the pianist leading his own trio as well as playing with other groups, the bassist working with the likes of drummer Matt Wilson, Harry Connick Jr., and saxophonist Joel Frahm while the drummer has recorded and/or toured with pianist Bill Carrothers, the late Sarah Vaughan, and saxophonist Eric Alexander (among many others). These three veterans have now recorded their debut album. "Triage" (Shifting Paradigm Records) is an odd title for this lovely group of original songs (eight by Lomheim and three by O'Brien) but don't let that distract you from listening.
Photo:Andrea Canter
While the music works as an accompaniment to a late afternoon time on the porch or to play during dinner, when you sit and really listen one hears how enjoyable these 11 pieces are. Particularly attractive is the pianist's "Even More Than Before", a medium-tempo ballad with the hint of a Burt Bacharach melody (as well as a section of the chorus that reminds this listener of the 60's hit "Goin' Out of My Head") –pay attention to O'Brien's foundational bass work and the dancing cymbal work of Epstein. The bassist's "At What Price Happiness" has a faint touch of bossa nova in its rhythm. The airy melody line, the quiet interactions of the rhythm section, and the long, luxurious, piano solo (as well as the melodic bass solo), all adds up to an enjoyable aural experience.
Photo: Andrea Canter
As one returns to "Triage", you begin to see and hear the influence of the Bill Evans Trio and the Keith Jarrett Standards Trio. Specifically in the importance of bassist O'Brien (pictured left) and how his solos plus his great ear for melody meshes with the work of pianist Lomheim. And, like Evans and Jarrett, smartly written melodies are so important to how the music opens up for the solos. Epstein's role is to make sure the music flows on a even keel yet even he get many opportunties to interact with the melodic lines and solos.
The music of Chris Lomheim, Michael O'Brien, and Jay Epstein truly unfolds when one really pays attention. Their professionalism and camaraderie makes "Triage" a delightful experience, one that should come and stay.
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