In case you missed the last one…
Dániel Szabó Trio, Frictions (Warner Music Hungary): This was handed to me on my last New York visit, had never heard of the pianist before. It’s a probing all-original date, with bassist Mátyás Szandai and drummer András Mohay. Nikoletta Szöke’s one guest vocal doesn’t knock me over. Kurt Rosenwinkel’s three guest guitar slots, on the other hand…
Westchester Jazz Orchestra, All In (WJO Productions): Hot, super-professional big band charts from the likes of Mike Holober, Tony Kadleck, Jay Brandford. Tunes by Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, etc. Highlights: Jason Rigby’s tenor solo on “Caribbean Fire Dance,” Holober’s serpentine counterpoint on “Here Comes the Sun.”
Biréli Lagrène, Just the Way You Are (Dreyfus): He swings the Billy Joel tune Hot Club-style, and does the same with “Love Me Tender” (which reminds me, I need to spin Cyrus Chestnut’s Elvis tribute). I’ve liked the French gypsy guitarist’s singing in the past, but his turn on “All of Me” is a bit hammy. The guitar work (acoustic and electric) is typically ferocious, though.
Greg Burk, Ivy Trio (482 Music): Consistently fascinating pianist, now based in Rome. This salvo starts with a disarming nu-jazz track “Look to the Neutrino” and ends with a warped, pantonal rendering of “Billie’s Bounce.” Much of interest on the intervening five tracks as well, with bassist Jonathan Robinson and drummer Luther Gray.
Rob Reddy’s Small Town, The Book of the Storm (Reddy Music): Oceanic, advanced, deeply dissonant large-ensemble suite from the soprano saxophonist/composer, who happens to be an old classmate of mine. Four parts, ranging from eight to 22 minutes in length, played by reeds, brass, strings, two guitars, bass and two drummers (Guillermo E. Brown, Pheeroan akLaff).
Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Monterey Moods (Mack Avenue): The titles are simple (“Ballad,” “Blues,” “Latin Swing,” etc.) but the music is burning, with solos by Hubert Laws, Terell Stafford, Renee Rosnes, the leader’s son Anthony Wilson and more. Born shortly before the end of World War I, the 89-year-old Wilson is sounding modern indeed.
Comments are closed.