As more people get vaccinated and concert venues open
their doors once again, some sort of normalcy seems within reach. Meanwhile,
artists are continuing to release excellent music to help us through these
strange times. Here are notes on a few new jazz releases you might want to
check out.
David Finck:
“BASSic Instinct” – Bassist David Finck gives us a playfully titled album,
a sequel of sorts to his 2019 release,
BASSically
Jazz. Here he offers some standards and some original material. The album
open with its title track, one of the original compositions by David Finck, and
as you might imagine, it’s an enjoyable and light number. It features Ryan
Quigley on trumpet, Andy Snitzer on tenor saxophone, Mike Davis on trombone,
Quinn Johnson on keys, and Teo Lima on drums. It is approximately a minute
before David Finck takes his lead on bass. With that title, I expected that
would come even sooner. But this isn’t a showcase for the bass, but rather a
pleasant ensemble piece. That’s followed by a wonderful rendition of Irving
Berlin’s “The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me),” performed by the trio of David
Finck on bass, Tedd Firth on piano and Eric Halvorson on drums. I love David’s
lead on bass here, and the way Tedd Firth adds light touches on piano during
it. And check out that playful touch David adds just before the end during the
brief drum solo. One of the more surprising choices is “Theme From ‘Mannix,’”
this cool version featuring Bob Mann on guitar, as well as some really nice
work from Cliff Almond on drums. Another highlight is the beautiful “Seascape,”
which David Finck performs as a duet with Meg Ruby on piano. Meg Ruby also
shines on “Tico Tico No Fub
á,”
one of my personal favorites, in part because of the delightful way it moves. Three
tracks on this album feature vocals. The first of these is “Bateu, Levou/Who’s
Wrong Or Right?” with Téka Penteriche and Trist Curless. “
You rant and rave and overanalyze/You want a war/Who needs those
anymore?” And the presence of vocalists does not mean a lack of a good lead
on bass, for in the second half of this track David Finck certainly delivers. Kelly
Mittleman provides the vocal work on “So What,” a track that also features some
nice work on saxophone. Then Melissa Errico sings on “I Remember,” which was
written by David Finck and Jack Murphy, a gorgeous track to conclude the album.
This album is scheduled to be released on October 1, 2021.
Alexis Parsons:
“Alexis” – Vocalist Alexis Parsons works with two trios on her new album,
Alexis, delivering warm and personal
renditions of some beloved standards. She opens the album with Cole Porter’s
“Easy To Love,” backed by David Berkman on piano, Drew Gress on bass, and Matt
Wilson on drums. She eases into the song, this rendition having a wonderfully
intimate late-night vibe, and she completely sells us on this love that should
be. With that same trio, she then gives us “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,”
written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers. I love how she is totally in the
moment, seeming to live the song. This track also features a good bass solo.
Because she fully inhabits each song, it
means a different vocal approach depending on the track’s mood, so in “Spring
Can Really Hang You Up The Most” we hear a different sound from her. That one
also features a rather unusual, gentle drum solo. Then with the trio of Arturo
O’Farrill on piano, Jonathan Gilley on bass, and Willard Dyson on drums, she
tackles Franz Schubert’s “Organ Grinder.” This track features some moving work
on bass, and then there is a surprising section in the second half with some of
the lines delivered almost as spoken word, with an improvised feel. With that
same trio, she sings “Summertime.” I’ve said it often, but you can never go
wrong with Gershwin. And this trio delivers a version that is unusual right
from its opening, creating a strange atmosphere from which Alexis Parsons’
voice emerges. It is a different sort of summer in these musicians’ hands. This
is a fresh approach that is captivating. The album opened with a Cole Porter
song, and it likewise closes with one, “In The Still Of The Night,” featuring
the trio of David Berkman, Drew Gress and Matt Wilson. This one also has a
gorgeous and intimate sound, coming from those hours so late that time seems to
have stopped entirely. This album is scheduled to be released on October 1,
2021.
Jackson Potter:
“Restless” – Guitarist Jackson Potter’s debut album features mostly
original compositions, beginning with “Bird Flu,” an energetic piece that
contains some delicious leads on piano and guitar and saxophone, and seems to
be in constant motion. What is exciting about this piece is that during a lead
the other musicians do not settle into the background waiting their turns, but
keep up their own energy and fantastic work. The band is made up of Patrick
Leavy on bass, Gibb Mandish on drums, and Leo Folsom on piano, with David Mason
on alto saxophone, Joey Curreri on trumpet, and Carter Key on tenor trombone.
“Bird Flu” is followed by “Falling Grace,” one of only two covers, this one written
by Steve Swallow. As with the opening track, there is a strong sense of
movement here, particularly in Jackson Potter’s guitar work, which seems to
flow and dance. Then “Mulberry Tree” has a pleasant and warm, nostalgic vibe.
“Sophia’s Waltz” has a sweet, gentle sound, a love song that will bring to mind
that special person in your life. Then “Amalfi” features some really good work
on drums, particularly toward the end. The album’s second cover is Horace
Silver’s “Peace,” which begins with a pretty guitar solo, and features a
wonderful lead on bass. That’s followed by “Hindsight Is 2020,” which was
written during the pandemic. And though 2020 is technically in the past, the
pandemic certainly isn’t, and most of the events and effects of last year are
still with us, and so this track doesn’t really look back, but captures the
current mood. It features some great work on drums, as well as from the horn
section. The album concludes with “Restless,” which comes as a surprise,
Jackson Potter turning to more of a rock guitar sound at the beginning. Before
long, this track commands your attention. This album is scheduled to be
released on October 8, 2021.
– With a name like Scenic Route Trio, you can expect
this group of musicians to play music that will lift your spirits. And indeed,
with the album’s very first track, “The Optimist,” they do so. That opening
track has a wonderfully cheerful vibe. It might be enough to make an optimist
of the most cynical among us. And certainly the world is in need of some
optimism, some spirit. The trio is made up of Javier Santiago on piano, Ollie
Dudek on bass, and Genius Wesley on drums, and all three deliver some delicious
and delightful work here. This is the kind of track you just want to go on and
on, so that you can remain in a good mood. It, like all the tracks on this
album, was written by Ollie Dudek. Then “Flight Of Kawan” has a somewhat more
relaxed, pleasant vibe at first, and still carries a great amount of joy to the
listener. Soon it feels like each musician is dancing with his instrument, just
the sort of thing to get us through the bad days. Things then get mellower with
“Children Of The Sun,” which features some beautiful work on piano. I wasn’t
sure what to expect from “Pandemia,” a tune which is obviously inspired by, and
reflects, these crazy times, and indeed it goes through different sections, much
as we’ve run through a wide array of emotions the last couple of years. I
especially like the livelier sections of this track, the more joyous moments,
and of course the drum solo. “Dreamscape” begins in a pleasant, welcoming
place, and feels partially like memory, partially like desire. And soon it
feels that are much more active within this place. “Lover’s Quarrel” is a fun
track, much more enjoyable than any lover’s quarrel I’ve ever had, and it
features a great drum solo. The album concludes with an alternative take of
“Children Of The Sun.” This album was released on September 18, 2021.
– Certain songs from the past seem
to address present troubles. Or perhaps those troubles never went away. Jazz
vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia presents her own renditions of a few of these songs
on her new album, beginning with Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” a
song that has popped up a lot lately, especially after the police’s response to
Black Lives Matter protests, and after authorities attacked peaceful protesters
in D.C. so that the orange conman could pose with a bible. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s
rendition is thoughtful and soulful, and features some nice percussion by Lorca
Hart. Listen to the powerful and pointed way she delivers the lines “
What a field day for the heat/A thousand
people in the street/Singing songs and carrying signs.” There is also an
excellent instrumental section. That’s followed by “What Are We Gonna Do,” the
album’s original composition by Cathy Segal-Garcia. The song has a gentle feel,
but in it she asks some big questions, including how we are going to justify
the human race. “
How do we recognize
what’s wrong and make it go right?” I think we’ve got a handle on the first
part of that question, but not the second. This song features some wonderful
work on guitar. When I think of artists who have written social anthems, I
don’t usually think of Billy Joel, though his “Goodnight Saigon” and
“Allentown” address important topics and are seriously good songs (it is best
to forget the awful “We Didn’t Start The Fire”). The song of his that Cathy
Segal-Garcia covers here is “And So It Goes,” from
Storm Front, and she delivers a touching rendition, joined on
vocals by Paul Jost. She also delivers a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Down To
Earth” that features a fantastic instrumental section. One of my favorites is
her take on “Get Together,” which she combines with “Can’t Find My Way Home,”
an interesting choice. Her vocal work grabs us right from the introduction, and
is at times haunting, as on the lines “
We
shall surely pass” and “
We are but a
moment’s sunlight/Fading in the grass.” And all the musicians really shine
on this track. The album concludes with Marvin Gaye’s “Save The Children,” with
Mon David joining her on vocals. This album was released on September 17, 2021.
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