New Jazz Releases – 12/02/2024
By Russell Perry
Ilya Osachuk
This week we have a strong debut from bassist Ilya Osachuk and a bass duet from Rodney Jordan & Christian Fabian. Some guitarists this time around – Oz Noy, Peter Bernstein, and a vintage pair from Emily Remler. Jon Batiste is out with a Beethoven tribute (!) and, after a thirty year lag, we have a reunion of now mature jazz heroes – Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau, Peter Bernstein and Larry Grenadier, with Bill Stewart as the band M.T.B.
Ilya Osachuk – The Answer (Ilya Osachuk Music, released 11/01/2024). Tyler Henderson or Donald Vega – piano, Ilya Osachuk – bass, Kai Craig or Billy Drummond – drums.
Canadian bassist Ilya Osachuk earned his MM at Juilliard studying under Ben Wolfe and Gerald Cannon and now he has released his debut featuring five originals plus four cover (one each by Monk and Trane, I Cover The Waterfront, Tenderly). There are sets from two different piano – bass – drums trios – one of the leader’s contemporaries and one of his elders Donald Vega on piano and Billy Drummond on drums. Osachuk composed, arranged and produced this project as well as playing deep and graceful bass throughout. This release is mature beyond the leader’s years and comes highly recommended.
Review: Jazziz, Paris Move, AllAboutJazz, Jazz Weekly
Oz Noy – Fun One (Criss Cross, released 11/29/2024). David Kikoski – piano, Oz Noy – guitar, James Genus – bass, Clarence Penn – drums.
With a long career as a pop and rock guitarist, Israeli-born, New York-based Oz Noy has released a disc of modern jazz classics (Solar, Giant Steps, Sandu, Ruby My Dear, etc.) and two originals. The leader is a compelling guitarist and the band has some serious chops – pianist David Kikoski (Something Else!, Gerald Cannon, Wayne Escoffery), bassist James Genus (Tia Fuller, Ravi Coltrane, James Carter), and drummer Clarence Penn (Behind The Voice, previewed 06/10/2024).
M.T.B. – Solid Jackson (Criss Cross, released 11/29/2024). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Brad Mehldau – piano, Peter Bernstein – guitar, Larry Grenadier – bass, Bill Stewart – drums.
Thirty years ago, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner (Live at the Village Vanguard, previewed 08/21/2023), pianist Brad Mehldau (Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles, previewed 02/20/2023), guitarist Peter Bernstein (Better Angels, previewed below), bassist Larry Grenadier (Charles Lloyd, Jason Palmer, Joey Alexander) and drummer Leon Parker recorded the set that, once released in 2000 was titled Consenting Adults. Now, with Bill Stewart (John Scofield, Vicente Archer, Noah Preminger) on drums, they are back, but this time as established giants in modern jazz – leading players on their respective instruments. Having played together in various combinations over the intervening decades, this is an ensemble with a palpable sense of familiarity. Highly recommended.
Review: Marlbank, Presto Music
Jon Batiste – Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1) (Verve, released 11/15/2024). Jon Batiste – piano.
From time-to-time jazz artists use classical compositions as source material for improvisation. Few of these explorations become memorable moments in jazz performance (exceptions include: MJQ – Blues on Bach, Ellington and Strayhorn – The Nutcracker’s Suite). Pianist Jon Batiste is a pop music powerhouse with deep jazz background and classical performance chops. His performance of Django with Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2013 was Rachmaninoff-ian in its romanticism. In this Beethoven set, he sets out pretty straight from the score and then begins to respond and embellish. His skill as an improvisor and player make this an enjoyable listen, although I doubt this is in to which I will return frequently.
Review: AllMusic, The Arts Desk, New York Times
Amaury Faye & Igor Gehenot – Live At Bozar (Hypnote Records, releases 11/08/2024). Amaury Faye – piano, Igor Gehenot – piano.
Pianists Amaury Faye (France) and Igor Gehenot (Belgium) recorded a studio piano duet in 2021 (Amaury Faye x Igor Gehenot) and a year later recorded this set live on tour, while duplicating none of the selections. It’s a very stately and serene affair.
Stan Harrison – Poor Soul Has A Fire (Adhyâropa Records, released 10/25/2024). Stan Harrison – tenor saxophone / clarinet / bass clarinet / alto flute / guitar / vocals, Elias Stemeseder – piano, Una Corda – synthesizer, Michael Gregory Jackson – guitar, Kim Cass – bass, Steven Crammer – drums with string quartet: Sara Caswell – violin, Erin Benim Mayland – violin, Carla Fabiani – viola, Jessie Reagen – cello.
Multi-instrumentalist Stan Harrison has had a long career supporting a wide variety of rock and pop acts. Now he has released a set of nine originals that refer back to the pop world from a jazz perspective. Mostly this is a reeds – piano -synth – bass – drums quintet, but guitarist Michael Gregory Jackson jumps in on a pair and Harrison adds a string quartet on one.
Reviews: Jazz Weekly, The Jazz Word, Paris Move
Peter Bernstein – Better Angels (Smoke Sessions Records, released 09/27/2024). Brad Mehldau – piano, Peter Bernstein – guitar, Vicente Archer – bass, Al Foster – drums.
This is likely my favorite guitar-led release so far this year. Peter Bernstein seems to think that it is enough to be a terrific jazz guitarist without bringing in all sorts of related influences. And then there is Brad Mehldau on piano, the leading straight-ahead pianist of his generation (IMHO). Four originals plus two covers from the quartet and then two solo covers – sweet versions of Mel Tormé’s Born To Be Blue and JJ Johnson’s Lament. Recommended.
Hyeonseon Baek – Longing (You & Me Music, released 04/26/2024). Lucas Pino – tenor saxophone, Kevin Hays – piano, Linda May Han Oh – bass, Jochen Rueckert – drums, Hyeonseon Baek – vocals.
South Korean-born, Holland and Boston-educated vocalist Hyeonseon Baek has released a confident debut in the company of a first class trio, ably supplemented on four tracks by saxophonist Lucas Pino (Covers, previewed 10/30/2024). I’m looking forward to more from this artist.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Trail, Jazz Weekly
Rodney Jordan & Christian Fabian – Conversations (Spice Rack Records, released 07/13/2021). Rodney Jordan – bass, Christian Fabian – bass.
This 2021 release just arrived at WTJU. I don’t know why the delay, but I am happy to get a chance to hear it. As with the recent Christian McBride – Edgar Meyer release (But Who’s Gonna Play the Melody?, previewed 03/11/2024), this is a duet of acoustic basses – Rodney Jordan (Curtis Fuller, Marcus Roberts) and Christian Fabian (Enrico Granafei). And once again, the richness of repertoire and interpretation makes this a real treat to hear. A little late coming but still recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Contemporary Fusion Reviews, Bass Magazine
Forty years after the sets were recorded in Las Vegas, the mid-80s live recordings of Emily Remler’s trio and quartet have just been released (Emily Remler – Cookin’ At The Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988, previewed 11/22/2024). During this same time period, Remler released two of the six Concord discs on which most of her reputation is based. While these important releases have been in the WTJU vinyl collection since they were released, we have added them to the digital collection to make them more accessible. Both discs feature Remler in the company of Charlottesville’s own John D’earth on trumpet, Eddie Gomez on bass (Bill Evans 1966 – 1977) and Bob Moses on drums.
Emily Remler – Transitions (Concord Jazz, released 1984). John D’earth – trumpet, Emily Remler – guitar, Eddie Gomez – bass, Bob Moses – drums. Review: AllMusic
Emily Remler – Gateway (Concord Jazz, released 1985). John D’earth – trumpet, Emily Remler – guitar, Eddie Gomez – bass, Bob Moses – drums. Review: AllMusic
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
