This country is about to become very dark. We all know
it, yet we can’t stop it. The hardest thing isn’t knowing that a rich man got
away with a bunch of crimes. That happens all the time. The hardest thing is
knowing that half of the country wanted him to get away with his crimes, and
abetted him in that endeavor by electing him president. That is difficult to
digest. So I’ve decided to avoid all news, and focus on music. It’s the only
way I can keep from totally giving into anger and despair. And, I tell you, it’s
working so far. Maybe it will work for you too. Here are notes on a few new
jazz albums you might want to check out.
Liz Cole: “I Want
To Be Happy” – This seems like the perfectly titled album for the new year,
doesn’t it? I suppose it would work for any year, actually, but now it seems
particularly apt. We need to focus on things that will make us happy, and music
this good should do the trick.
I Want To
Be Happy is the jazz vocalist’s debut full-length album, and it opens with
its title track. Drummer Aaron Serfaty begins this one, and is the sole support
for Liz Cole on the first several lines. “
I
want to be happy/But I won’t be happy/‘Til I make you happy too.” Then
Jacob Mann and Jonathan Richards join them on piano and bass respectively, and
the band begins to cook. This is a completely enjoyable rendition. And when Liz
sings, “
Life’s really worth living/When
we are mirth-giving/I want to give some to you,” we have no doubt about it.
And through this music she is making good on that wish. Her voice is full of
cheer, of warmth, of life. That’s followed by “Mean To Me,” and here it is
Darek Oles’ bass that accompanies her at the beginning. Here she changes gears,
singing “
Gee, honey, it seems to me/You
love to see me crying.” And we can’t imagine the creep who would love that,
for her voice continues to make us feel good. This track also features a good
lead on bass, and a cool lead by Otmaro Ruiz on piano. The cool vibes increase
on her rendition of Cole Porter’s “You’re Sensational,” in part because of
Larry Koonse’s work on guitar. It’s hard to believe this is really Liz Cole’s
debut album, for her voice carries with it confidence and experience. Listen to
the passion and warmth and earnestness in her delivery of “I’d Give A Dollar
For A Dime.” That track also contains some pretty work on piano. Liz Cole is
equally at ease when covering “Lobo Bobo,” written by Carlos Lyra and Ronaldo B
ôscoli, a song with a wonderful
Brazilian rhythm. Larry Koonse delivers more great work on guitar on that
track. That’s followed by an excellent rendition of Erroll Garner’s “Passing
Through,” which here is titled “Things To Do (Passing Through),” with Liz Cole
adding her own lyrics. “
Well now, I don’t
know about you/But I’m just passing through/So I’ve got places to be and things
to do.” Oh yes, all of us are only passing through, as Pete Seeger tells us
in another song with that title. And here Liz sings, “
So you see I can’t be late/Because time just doesn’t wait/The last
thing I want to do is hesitate/As for you, I hope you’ll join me too/Because we
are all just passing through.” This is one of my favorite tracks. It
contains a really nice section where the guitar and piano trade licks. The
album concludes with a beautiful and touching cover of Tom Waits’ “I’m Still
Here,” a song from
Alice, released in
2002. This album is scheduled to be released on January 28, 2025.
Gardyn Jazz
Orchestra: “Vinyl Brews” – This is a live album with original material
composed by Jon C. Gardner, who plays alto saxophone. The tracks were recorded
at two shows, one on December 6, 2023, the other on December 18, 2023, both in
Pennsylvania. The tunes were largely inspired by different beers. The album
opens with “Dinero De Sangre,” inspired by an IPA and featuring a wonderful
lead by Dan Hanrahan on guitar, followed by some fantastic work by Jud Aaron on
tenor saxophone, which the crowd responds to. And I especially appreciate the
drum solo by Sean J. Kennedy toward the end. This tune was included on the
band’s self-titled debut album. That’s followed by “By The Stoney Creek,” also
inspired by an IPA. This one is totally fun, swinging and shaking and strutting
and grooving, and featuring a great lead by Michael Cruse on trumpet. Jacob
Kaplan also delivers some wonderful work on alto saxophone. But, really,
everything is working perfectly here. This is one of my personal favorites.
There is a second take of this tune included on this disc, this time with
Marcell A. Bellinger delivering a delicious lead on trumpet (this from the
second show). Both renditions feature excellent work on guitar and drums. “The
Golden OG” was inspired, at least partly, by a pilsner. It kind of eases in,
with something of a classic vibe, and featuring a good bass line by Isaac
Strader, and then grows from there. Jud Aaron delivers some really nice work on
tenor saxophone, and Seth Dowdell gets a chance to shine on trombone. There is
a second take of this tune too, this one from the December 18th show. The disc also
contains two versions of “Walking On Clouds,” a tune named after a specific New
England IPA from Von C Brewing Company. This time the first version presented
is that from the second show, and it begins with a cool groove with a bit of
funk. Juicy? You bet! Jordan Graef delivers some seriously delicious work on
tenor saxophone. There is a lot of energy to this number, and that’s true of
both versions. “Zoomies!” has some guitar work that reminds me a bit of Archie
Bell’s “Tighten Up.” It also features some good stuff on trumpet, and builds
into something you just can’t help but dance to. And “Meh…It Happens” features
some nice work on tenor saxophone. This album was released on June 17, 2024.
– Guitarist Doug MacDonald’s new live
album was recorded with the Coachella Valley Trio at Rancho Mirage Library and
Observatory on April 24, 2024. The album opens with “It’s A Blue World,” which
Doug MacDonald starts with some good solo guitar work. And soon the band comes
in, immediately establishing a delicious groove. Larry Holloway is on bass, and
Tim Pleasant is on drums. Special guest Danny “Big Black” Rey joins them on
djembe on this album. There is a moment in that first track just about a minute
and a half in where the sound suddenly gets a bit louder. This track has a
wonderful energy, everything moving at a good clip, much faster than that early
1950s recording by The Four Freshmen. Listening to this rendition, it doesn’t
seem like a blue world at all. If these musicians have their way, the whole
world will be dancing and shaking. They then give “Lady Bird” a Latin vibe,
which works quite well. This track features an excellent lead on bass.
Interestingly, there is a moment on this track too when the sound suddenly gets
louder. The part that really delights me is that percussion section, and I wish
it went on a bit longer. The group then delivers a cool, fun rendition of Kenny
Burrell’s “Chitlins Con Carne,” a bluesy number with a funky edge. There is
more great percussion on this one, and some phenomenal work on bass (that lead
is something else!), yet it is that guitar work that gives this track its cool
vibe. As they did with “It’s A Blue World,” these guys pick up the pace on
“Spanish Eyes,” making it swing and move, Doug MacDonald delivering some
excellent stuff on guitar. This is a fun rendition. These musicians also have a
lot of fun with their rendition of “Triste,” a track with some playful touches.
Another of the disc’s highlights is “Dearly Beloved,” which moves and breathes,
cooking along and featuring more fantastic stuff on guitar. That track also
features a strong lead on bass. That’s followed by “Fascinating Rhythm.” I’ve
said it before, but you can never go wrong with Gershwin, and these guys deliver
a totally delightful rendition, their instruments dancing. You can tell that
the crowd is digging it too. This album was released on October 1, 2024.
– Yes, Doug MacDonald is a busy guy. Coming on the
heels of his live album is this studio release, featuring a different band.
This time the guitarist is joined by Bill Cantos on keys, Hussain Jiffry on
bass (Jiffry also did the engineering, mixing and mastering), and Kevin Winard
on drums. Interestingly, the album opens with “Lady Bird,” a tune that Doug
MacDonald also included on the live album. And as on the live album, here he
gives it a Latin vibe. Still, this recording has a different feel, in part
because of the work by Bill Cantos on piano. That work helps keep this track
moving forward, and with some warmth. That’s followed by an original
composition, “Minor Makeup,” the guitar work having a kind of smooth, cool
quality at the beginning, feeling like a character who aims to give off the
impression that he is in control. And, who knows, maybe he is. The piano is
hopping, adding to the cheerful sound of this piece. Doug MacDonald has the
freedom to take his lead on guitar into some fun areas, and the track has a
full sound backing him. Doug MacDonald then puts his own touch on “Prisoner Of
Love,” a song that Russ Columbo recorded in the early 1930s, giving it a Latin
feel. There is a sweet warmth to this one. That’s followed by another original
composition, “Tele Time,” which has a relaxed Bossa Nova groove. This track has
an overall soothing vibe, though with some interesting work on both guitar and
keys. Things then get cool on “Walkin’,” a song that was used as the title
track to a 1957 Miles Davis compilation. I am especially fond of the bass work
on this track. That’s followed by “Pent-Up House,” a piece written by Sonny
Rollins, who included it on his 1956 album
Plus
4. There is a fresh pep to the tune in this rendition by Doug MacDonald,
particularly in the guitar work. The album’s final original tune is “Dmac,” one
he named after himself. And why not? This one gets off to a great start with
some delicious drumming, and soon takes on a good groove. It features a
wonderful lead on keys. Doug MacDonald wraps things up with “Perdido,” leaving
us with another tune to keep us moving forward. This album was released on
January 1, 2025.
Terry Waldo &
The Gotham City Band: “Treasury Volume 1” – Remember those history records
from when we were kids, where a voice at the beginning would say “You are
there”? Well, listening to this album by Terry Waldo & The Gotham City Band,
it really does feel like we are there, like the musicians have opened a portal
and allowed us to join them in the early days of jazz, performing songs from
the late 1800s and early 1900s. The excitement and joy are heard on every track,
and so the music feels new rather than old. And that’s something. They open the
album with “Blame It On The Blues,” a tune written in 1914, and immediately we
are transported by the music. This is tremendous fun. The tune is swinging and catchy
and will likely have you wishing to learn some of those new dances. Terry Waldo
delivers some delicious work on piano, and toward the end we are treated to some
wonderful stuff on banjo. Tatiana Eva-Marie then joins the group on vocals for
an absolutely delightful rendition of “I Get The Blues When It Rains.” We want to
accompany her on her stroll through this world. Everything about this works
perfectly, and if this music doesn’t make you smile, the damage to your soul
must be irreparable. Things get hopping with “Wolverine Blues,” those piano
keys dancing. And Mike Davis’ work on trumpet is particularly good. There is
even a brief drum solo by Jay Lepley. Then check out Terry Waldo’s piano work
on “Yellow Dog Blues,” the way he takes us from that great mean opening into
more playful territory, teasing us and pleasing us. And I love Ricky Alexander’s
work on clarinet, and Colin Hancock’s work on tenor saxophone. The band’s
rendition of “Billy Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?” is great fun, and it
features Jerron Paxton on vocals and banjo. There is also delightful work by
Jay Rattman on bass saxophone. Before the end, this track will have you dancing
out your door and down the street (don’t worry about what the neighbors might
think). The band switches gears with “San,” the beginning featuring an ominous
sound. And then suddenly everything lightens and we are at a party and ready to
enjoy ourselves. This is music to dispel the darkness. Jarron Paxton is again
on vocals for “The Frog Song,” a fun number. Don’t be surprised if you find
yourself echoing some of those lines. An outstanding rendition of “Tiger Rag”
follows, and it features some great stuff on percussion, including a drum solo
toward the end. Veronica Swift joins the band on vocals for “After You’ve Gone,”
giving an absolutely wonderful performance, one that will stay with you. The
group wraps things up with a special rendition of “Maple Leaf Rag.” It sounds
like they might be adding an effect to the sound, but the liner notes set us
straight, letting us know this recording was made using an original studio horn
from the 1920s. Enjoy! This album was released on November 22, 2024.
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