New Jazz Releases – 09/30/2024
Author: Russell Perry
Ryan Keberle
First things first – this week is the WTJU Jazz and Blues Fundraising Marathon. Turn your radio on, tune to 91.1, go to wtju.net and pledge your support, don’t touch your dial until 10/7. Seriously, we count on you, the listener, for the greater proportion of our resources. Please be generous.
Trombonist Ryan Keberle has a new one out with an octet of Posi-tine Records mavens. Vocalist Michael Mayo blew me away and now I need to dig to see what else I can find by this fine singer. Mark Masters has written a beautiful suite for trumpeter Tim Hagans. And Walter Smith III keeps putting out excellent music on his own and as a guest of several discs per year. Dig in.
Ryan Keberle – Bright Moments (Posi-tone Records, released 09/13/2024). Alex Norris – trumpet / flugelhorn, Ryan Keberle – trombone, Patrick Cornelius – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet / alto flute, Diego Rivera – tenor saxophone / flute, Michael Dease – baritone saxophone, Art Hirahara – piano, Boris Kozlov – bass, Rudy Royston – drums.
Ryan Keberle is notable for his long standing membership in both the Maria Schneider Orchestra and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society and that should give you a sense of his stature as a player. Now in the company of seven of the best of the Posi-tone Records players, he has released a first-class straight-ahead date full of satisfying self-penned compositions, excellent ensemble playing and fine solo performances. Highly recommended.
Review: Audiophile Audition
Ben Wendel – Understory: Live At The Village Vanguard (Edition Records, releases 10/04/2024). Ben Wendel – saxophone, Gerald Clayton – piano, Linda May Han Oh – bass / vocals, Obed Calvaire – drums.
Saxophonist Ben Wendel has recorded a straight-ahead set that is miles from the music he creates with Kneebody. This time out he is at the storied Village Vanguard for a “Live At …” program following in the footsteps of the masters. He has great company (Gerald Clayton on piano, Linda May Han Oh on bass, Obed Calvaire on drums) all of whom have collaborated with him over the years and they are performing a set of originals plus On the Trail, a Ferd Grofe tune most associated with Jimmy Heath. Worth a listen.
Review: UK Vibe
Michael Mayo – Fly (Mack Avenue Records / Artistry Music, releases 10/04/2024). Scott Mayo – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Shai Maestro – piano / synthesizer / Rhodes, Linda May Han Oh – bass, Nate Smith – drums / percussion, Michael Mayo – vocals.
Vocalist Michael Mayo is a marvel – he is an inventive singer with a ton of range and an effortless falsetto. He appeared years ago (2018) on the eponymous Curtis Nowosad release and then I lost track of him (although I now see a 2021 Mack Avenue release). It is wonderful to hear this release. He has bits of Bobby McFerrin and Take 6 in his musical DNA and surprisingly Chet Baker comes to mind as well. His band of Shai Maestro on piano, Linda May Han Oh on bass and Nate Smith on drums has impeccable jazz chaps. He scats uptempo and croons ballads – the full package. Loved this. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Marlbank
Mark Masters Ensemble Featuring Tim Hagans – Sui Generis (Capris Records, releases 10/04/2024) digital only. Tim Hagans – trumpet, John Dickson – french horn, Nicole McCabe – alto saxophone, Jerry Pinter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Dave Woodley – trombone, Jeff Colella – piano, Chris Colangelo – bass, Kendall Kay – drums.
Arranger / bandleader Mark Masters has assembled an octet (three brass – two reeds – three rhythm) to perform his compositions. Trumpeter Tim Hagans is the featured artist, playing on the straight-ahead end of his broad spectrum of stylistic range. This is a lovely record from start-to-finish, well composed, well-arranged and well-played. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Nick Adema – Urban Chaos (ZenneZ Records , releases 10/04/2024). Nick Adema – trombone / pedal board, Michael Murray – alto saxophone, Noah Preminger – tenor saxophone, Joy Shechter – piano, Ante Medic – guitar, Azubike Onwuka – bass, Chen Han Even – drums, Liva Dumpe – vocals.
Canadian-born, Amsterdam-based trombonist Nick Adema has released his debut recording with his band Urban Chaos, a trombone – piano – bass – drums quartet supplemented by Noah Preminger on tenor, Ante Medic on guitar or Michael Murray on alto on many of the tunes. Several tunes include a string quartet that seems superfluous to my ears.
Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet – 3 Sides of the Coin (Dafnison Music, released 09/27/2024). Peter Apfelbaum – woodwinds, Martin Bejerano – piano, Ricky Rodríguez – electric bass, Dafnis Prieto – drums.
Drummer Dafnis Prieto disembarked in New York from Cuba 25 years ago and, in the meantime, has matured from a hot-shot percussionist to a sophisticated composer (all nine tracks on this release) and bandleader. I get the greatest pleasure from this disc from the Afro-Cuban rhythmic explorations but the range is greater than that.
Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene, Jazz Weekly, Downbeat
Walter Smith III – three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not (Blue Note Records, released 09/27/2024). Walter Smith III – tenor saxophone, Jason Moran – piano, Reuben Rogers – bass, Eric Harland – drums.
Last year tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III appeared on his own strong release (Blue Note debut Return to Casual previewed 04/03/2023) and releases from Kendrick Scott and Anthony Branker. So far this year, he has appeared with the Jim Gordon Nonet (7th Avenue South previewed 05/06/2024) and Bruno Råberg (Evolver previewed 05/20/2024). Now he is back with a new quartet. As the title suggests Smith, pianist Jason Moran and drummer Eric Harland are all from Houston, but bassist Reuben Rogers is not – he is from the Virgin Islands. All Smith’s band-mates are veterans of various Charles Lloyd ensembles. Smith is a stylish soloist and capable writer, coupled with the A-list quartet-mates, this is a record worth chasing down. Highly recommended.
Review: Pop Matters, Big Take-Over
Jim Self & John Chiodini – Feels So Good (Bassett Hound, released 09/21/2024). Kris Bergh – trumpet, Bill Booth – trombone, Jim Self – tuba / fluba, Steve Marsh – tenor saxophone, Phil Feather – alto saxophone, John Chiodini – guitar.
In their fourth release together, tuba player Jim Self and guitarist John Chiodini continue to make rich music, primarily as a duo. There are several guests on the disc – brass and reed players – but the main show is the work out by the tuba and guitar. For a change, the tuba, rarely heard in jazz and then primarily as a rhythm instrument, is featured here as a lead instrument. Well-played.
Matt Panayides – With Eyes Closed(Pacific Coast Jazz, released 09/20/2024). Matt Panayides – guitar, Steve LaSpina – bass, Anthony Pinciotti – drums.
Compared to Jim Hall and Pat Martino, guitarist Matt Panayides brings his clean attack to a program of compositions by modern jazz giants (Woody Shaw, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea). The sound comes right out of the late 50s, but this isn’t a slavishly nostalgic set, rather it sounds fresh in a familiar way. Recommended.
Review: Making A Scene, Skope Magazine
Simon Moullier – Elements of Light (Candid, released 09/20/2024). Marquis Hill – trumpet / flutes / percussion, Lex Korten – piano, Gerald Clayton – piano, Simon Moullier – vibraphone, Rick Rosato – bass, Jongkuk Kim – drums.
After last year’s Inception (previewed 12/11/2023) which featured a program of great modern jazz composers plus one original, vibraphonist Simon Moullier’s latest is just the reverse with one Wayne Shorter selection (Oriental Folk Song, a highlight) and eight originals. Whereas the previous release was a vibes – bass – drums trio, this time around Moullier has added Lex Korten on piano for a quartet. There are so many solid vibraphone-led releases out these days (Warren Wolf, Joel Ross, Patricia Brennan)! This one is recommended.
Jim Witzel – Breaking Through Gently (Joplin & Sweeney Music Co, released 09/20/2024). Phil Aaron – piano, Jim Witzel – piano, Dan Feiszli – bass, Jason Lewis – drums.
Guitarist Jay Witzel released Feelin’ It (previewed 01/23/2023) after a 30-year lag in recording during which time he attending to teaching at SF State. Now he is back quickly with another release, this time in a piano – guitar – bass – drums quartet with a program of seven originals and a Paul Simon cover (Old Friends). Satisfying.
Phillip Golub – Abiding Memory (Berthed Records, released 06/21/2024). Phillip Golub – piano / rhodes / harpsichord, Alec Goldfarb – electric guitar, Daniel Hass – cello, Sam Minaie – bass, Vicente Atria – drums.
Pianist Philip Golub is a member of the Anthony Braxton-themed quintet Tropos, collaborated with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding on their opera Iphigenia, and has earned glowing liner notes from Vijay Iyer. This ought to indicate the direction of his music in this seemingly through-composed classical-adjacent suite.
Review: Something Else, AllMusic
Alison Burns & Martin Taylor – Songs For Nature (P3 Music, released 06/05/2024). Martin Taylor – guitar, Alison Burns – vocals.
Scottish singer Alison Burns and British guitarist Martin Taylor have recorded a lovely duo set programmed around songs with nature themes. Burns is a delicate singer with emotional depth and Taylor is a very good guitarist with a great touch for accompaniment.
Avilion Shore – Externality of Reality (Self Produced, released 11/10/2023). Matt Dixon – trumpet / flugelhorn, Xochi – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Randall Mailand – piano / synthesizer, Bea Kelly – bass, Stephan LaRue – drums.
Just out on CD, this set by Avilion Shore was previewed in 12/18/2023 as part of our year-end All Jazz Is Local program, as follows: This Richmond-based reed and brass-led quintet has delivered a soft-focused set of four originals with a dreamy contemplative quality that moves beyond standard approaches to the familiar trumpet / tenor quintet. In his liner notes, John D’earth wrote, “Altogether, Externality of Reality represents an apogee of creative endeavor. Humans are the improvising animal, the musical animal, and this recording, born of close and constant collaboration, is a human document: music that is new and expressive of persistent, creative humanity.” From among the four originals by Xochi (formerly Tonito Wells), highlights include the tenor-led noirish stroll through Mirage of a Rainy Afternoon and the gentle ballad Floral Obsession.
I hope that something here tickles your eardrums. Enjoy the Marathon (and please pledge).
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
