New Jazz Releases – 10/14/2024
By Russell Perry
Samara Joy
Thanks to everyone for the terrific 2024 Jazz and Blues Fundraising Marathon – a great week of programming that has provided essential support for WTJU operating funds.
The music continues to flow. Samara Joy has taken another step towards joining the pantheon of great jazz singers. Charlottesville favorite Jenny Scheinman has a new disc with Bill Frisell. Altoist Benjamin Boone has memorialized his Fulbright in Ireland. The team of violinist Jason Anick and pianist Jason Yeager have brought in a pair of trumpeters for a wonderful sound. Pulitzer laureate Tyshawn Sorey has a new trio and a vintage live date from Terry Gibbs has just seen the light of day.
Samara Joy – Portrait (Verve, released 10/11/2024). Jason Charos – trumpet, Donavan Austin – trombone, David Mason – saxophone, Kendric McCallister – saxophone, Connor Rohrer – piano, Felix Moseholm – bass, Evan Sherman – drums, Samara Joy – vocals.
In 2023, Samara Joy won the Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Performance based on her disc LInger Awhile. Possessed of an amazing range and a powerful and supple voice, the question was if she could sustain that level of achievement and grow as an artist. Now we know. Her new disc features her in an expanded role as composer (Peace of Mind in medley with Sun Ra’s Dreams Come True), lyricist (Mingus’s Reincarnation of a Lovebird and Barry Harris’s Now and Then) and bandleader (of a jazz octet). Old school – she made the wise choice to record live in the studio, and then chose Rudy Van Gelder’s studio to be sure. Comparisons to Ella and Sassy are still apt, but Joy has taken giant steps toward being the standard that other’s are compared to. What an achievement. Highly recommended.
Review: Shatter the Standards, Glide Magazine
Terry Gibbs Dream Band – Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959 (Whaling City Sound, released 10/13/2024). Al Porcino, Ray Triscari, Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, John Audino, Frank Huggins – trumpets, Vern Friley, Bob Enevoldsen, Carl Fontana, Joe Cadena, Bill Smiley, Bob Burgess – trombones, Joe Maini – alto saxophone, Charlie Kennedy – alto saxophone, Med Flory – tenor saxophone, Bill Holman – tenor saxophone, Bill Perkins – tenor saxophone, Jack Schwartz – baritone saxophone, Lou Levy – piano, Pete Jolly – piano, Terry Gibbs – vibes, Max Bennett – bass, Buddy Clark – bass, Mel Lewis – drums.
Jazz-historian / writer Ted Gioia, while asking why centenarian vibraphonist Terry Gibbs hasn’t been identified as an NEA Jazz Master, opines that “the Terry Gibbs Dream Band is the hardest-swinging big band in SoCal history” and this live and, to-date, unreleased set amply supports that claim. Primarily a non-touring band (few big bands other than Duke, Count, and Kenton could survive touring in 1959), this was a favorite for the best LA players, many of whom made their living as session players, busting out only in settings like this. This recording lives up to the myth and the hype. Swinging modern big band jazz! Highly recommended.
Reviews: The Honest Broker, Paris Move
Joe Sanders – Parallels(Whirlwind Recordings, released 10/11/2024). Logan Richardson – alto saxophone, Seamus Blake – tenor saxophone, Jure Pukl – tenor saxophone, Taylor Eigsti – piano / keyboards, Eliote Sanders – melodica, Joe Sanders – bass / drums / piano / vocals, Greg Hutchinson – drums.
The latest from bassist Joe Sanders (Joshua Redman, Gerald Clayton) includes four live tracks from a chordless tenor – alto – bass – drums quartet. The balance of the disc features Sanders in smaller settings, either solo (playing bass, piano, drums and singing) or in duet with tenor or piano. Sanders is a fine bassist and the live tracks show him to be a solid bandleader. The quartet tracks are much more interesting to me.
Reviews: Paris Move
Benjamin Boone – Confluence: The Ireland Sessions (Origin Records, released 10/11/2024). Benjamin Boone – alto saxophone, James Miley – piano / Fender Rhodes, Joe O’Callaghan – acoustic guitar / electric guitar, Dan Bodwell – acoustic bass, Rory Murphy – electric bass / acoustic bass, John Daly – drums, Rodrigo Dalla – percussion, JaYne – vocals.
Alto saxophonist / composer Benjamin Boone (Caught In The Middle previewed 10/09/2023) used a Fulbright Scholar year at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance to compose and record his latest release. No stranger to jumping into a new scene and creating music, Boone recorded 2020’s Joy in Acra, Ghana. Unlike the Ghanian release, there is nothing demonstrably “Irish” about this effort. Instead it is a well played post bop outing with another fine set of compositions, featuring Boone’s spirited alto and Joe O’Callaghan’s guitar in the front line. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Weekly
Jason Anick & Jason Yeager – Sanctuary (Sunnyside Records, released 10/11/2024). Billy Buss – trumpet / flugelhorn, Jason Palmer – trumpet, Edmar Colon – tenor saxophone, Jason Yeager – piano / synthesizers, Jason Anick – violin, Naseem Alatrash – cello, Greg Loughman – bass, Mike Connors – drums.
To the core duo of leaders Jason Anick (Reverence: A Tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Oscar Peterson previewed 02/12/2024) on violin and Jason Yeager on piano, Billy Buss (Godwin Louis, Fernando Huergo) and Jason Palmer (Mark Turner, Allison Miller) add their trumpets and it is the violin – trumpet front line that characterizes much of this unusual release. Palestinian cellist Naseem Alatrash (Ize Trio – The Global Suites previewed 08/05/2024) joins for two tunes thematically related with topics of displacement. In addition to eight original compositions are added a prelude by Chopin and Lost by Wayne Shorter. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Paris Move, Jazz Views
The Headhunters – The Stunt Man (Ropeadope, released 10/11/2024). Donald Harrison – alto saxophone, Craig Handy – tenor saxophone, Kyle Roussel – keyboards, Ryan Tatarian – keyboards, Chris Severin – bass, Mike Clark – drums, Bill Summers – percussion, Reggie Stevens – vocals, J Wills – vocals, Simone Mosley – vocals.
At it’s core, The Headhunters is Donald Harrison, Jr. on alto, Mike Clark on drums and Bill Summers on percussion and keys, the latter two of whom recorded with Herbie Hancock in his funk period fifty years ago. On a program of five band originals and covers of Gershwin and Shorter, the band doesn’t stray far from these funk roots.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Jenny Scheinman – All Species Parade (Royal Potato Family, released 10/11/2024). Carmen Staaf – piano, Bill Frisell – guitar, Julian Lage – guitar, Nels Cline – guitar, Jenny Sheinman – violin, Tony Scherr – bass, Kenny Wollesen – drums.
At the core of violinist Jenny Scheinman’s latest is her interplay with long-time collaborator Bill Frisell. Together they continue to mine the intersection of jazz and folkloric music. Guitarists Julian Lage and Nels Cline join the quintet on three and two tunes respectively and it is Lage’s contribution that resonates most with me. In a departure for her, Scheinman has composed a long-form three-part suite (Jaroujiji, The Sea Also Rises, All Species Parade) which reflects feelings about her native Humboldt County, CA. Beautifully played and recommended.
Review: Glide Magazine
Immanuel Wilkins – Blues Blood (Blue Note, released 10/11/2024). Immanuel Wilkins – alto saxophone / vocals / synthesizer, Micah Thomas – piano, Marvin Sewell – guitar, Rick Rosato – bass, Kweku Sumbry – drums, Chris Dave – drums, June McDoom – vocals, Yaw Agyeman – vocals, Ganavya – vocals, Cécile McLorin Salvant-voc, Michael Olufunmilola Ononaiye – spoken word.
Apparently the latest from alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins is the soundtrack to a commissioned mutli-media piece about which I know nothing. There certainly seems to be something going on to which we are not privy. Wilkins continues to be a strong player, but the material doesn’t do justice to his gifts. Cecile McLorin Salvant is regal as always and one of several vocalists in a departure for the leader. It’s interesting, but not compelling.
Review: Glide Magazine, The Arts Desk, The Big Takeover
Mauricio Morales – Seven Days (Self Produced, released 10/11/2024).
Ido Meshulam – trombone, Edmar Colón – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Luca Mendoza – piano, Horace Bray – guitar, Mauricio Morales – bass, Jongkuk “JK” Kim – drums.
Bassist Mauricio Morales challenged himself to write seven compositions in seven days and this release is the result. To my ears, these compositions could have used some more time…
Reviews: Paris Move, Making A Scene
Tyshawn Sorey Trio – The Susceptible Now(Pi Recordings, released 10/11/2024). Aaron Diehl – piano, Harish Raghavan – bass, Tyshawn Sorey – drums.
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer / drummer Tyshawn Sorey has been releasing piano trio records with pianist Aaron Diehl with some regularity (Mesmerism – 2021 and Continuing – 2022 both with Matt Brewer on bass and now The Susceptible Now with Harish Raghavan). I had wondered if the previous trio was going to be a long-term unit like the Jarrett – Peacock – DeJohnette trio, but apparently not, although the Diehl – Sorey pair have worked beautifully together over four releases. Sorey continues to mine what he calls the “Living Great American Songbook” with compositions by McCoy Tyler, Joanie Mitchell / Charles Mingus, Brad Mehldau and the contemporary soul group Vividly. The arrangements are complex and detailed and make for very satisfying listening. Recommended.
Review: Best Of Jazz
Jason Robinson – Ancestral Numbers II (Playscape Recordings, released 10/10/2024). Michael Dessen – trombone, Jason Robinson – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto flute, Joshua White – piano, Drew Gress – bass, Ches Smith – drums / glockenspiel.
From the sessions that resulted in the release Ancestral Numbers I (previewed 05/05/2024), now comes Volume II. The band runs through a myriad of jazz styles always brought to the present through the skill and creativity of the players. Recommended.
Reviews: Paris Move, The Art Music Lounge
I hope that something here tickles your eardrums.
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
