Brief Notes On New Jazz Releases

Here are notes on a few new jazz releases you might want to check out.

Wayne Alpern: “Saxologoy” – Wayne Alpern is a composer and arranger who offers interesting, unusual and delicious takes on some well-known songs. On his new album, Saxology, the musicians performing the music are the New York Saxophone Quartet, made up of Steve Kenyon on soprano saxophone, Todd Groves on alto saxophone, Dave Noland on tenor saxophone, and John Winder on baritone saxophone. The album opens with “All The Things You Are,” which has a light and free feel, the instruments acting like characters who are just delighted to be going about the business of living and communicating. This is a short track, approximately a minute and a half. In fact, a lot of the tracks on this release are fairly short, the music always moving forward. “All The Things You Are” is followed by a good rendition of “Anthropology” that feels both gentle and lively. There is a joy to the delivery of “Do Re Mi,” a tune from The Sound Of Music (a movie that I still have not seen). This rendition is appropriately playful, but it is that more serious section toward the end that I appreciate the most, just before that final bit of silliness at the track’s conclusion. Also from that musical comes “The Lonely Goatherd,” this version delivered at a slower pace (and of course containing no yodeling). One of my personal favorite tracks is “Fascinating Rhythm.” As I’ve said on other occasions, you can never go wrong with Gershwin. And this is a completely wonderful rendition. It has a strong New York vibe about it. That’s followed by a pretty and contemplative take on The Beatles’ “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (here titled “Hide Your Love Away”), the first of two Beatles songs covered on this album. The second is “When I’m Sixty-Four,” which closes the album. I love this arrangement of the song, which starts off slower than usual, and then after a minute or so becomes rather playful. It, surprisingly, has a brief vocal section toward the end, and is another of my favorite tracks. Another highlight is “Lady Is A Tramp,” this version both popping and having warmth. That is followed by perhaps the most fun choice of covers on this disc, “Little Darlin’,” a 1950s song most famously done by The Diamonds. That in turn is followed by another of the disc’s highlights, a completely delightful rendition of “Moten Swing.” This disc also contains a moving and beautiful rendition of “Turn Out The Stars.” This album was released on March 31, 2023.  

Matt Barber: “The Song Is You” – On his new release, vocalist Matt Barber delivers excellent renditions of some of his favorite standards. Half of the tracks feature Bradley Young on piano, and the album is dedicated to him. Bradley Young died in October of 2021. Also joining Matt Barber on this release are Marc LeBrun on piano, Brian Ward on bass, David Enos on bass, and Greg Sadler on drums, along with some guests on various tracks. The album opens with “Oh! Look At Me Now,” a song that is still largely associated with Frank Sinatra. Matt Barber gives a strong vocal performance here, and this track features some a really good lead by Marc LeBrun on piano. Joakim Toftgaard plays trombone on this track. That’s followed by the album’s title track, “The Song Is You,” the first of the album’s tracks to feature Bradley Young, and his great touch on the keys is felt from the song’s opening moments. Matt Barber then changes gears with “East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon,” which features a string arrangement and guitar work by Stephan Oberhoff, and a wonderful lead on flugelhorn by Tony Guerrero. I love the energetic rendition of “Almost Like Being In Love,” which includes a horn section. Tony Guerrero is on trumpet, Mark Goldsbury is on saxophone, and Joakim Toftgaard is on trombone, and they all deliver some great stuff here. This track also features some delicious drumming and a joyful vocal performance. Another of the disc’s highlights is “You Make Me Feel So Young,” another song that is associated with Frank Sinatra. This one begins with bass and some finger snaps, establishing a cool atmosphere. I really like Brian Ward’s work here. A warm and cheerful vocal performance and more wonderful work by Bradley Young on piano also make this track stand out. And before the end there are short, delightful drum solos. This album also includes an interesting version of “All The Things You Are,” with Matt Barber’s vocals supported by just guitar and piccolo. Pablo Sune is on guitar, and Mack Goldsbury is on piccolo. Matt Barber also gives us a nice rendition of Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” (which is the eighth track, not the ninth, as listed on the case). Dori Amarilio plays guitar on that track. A beautiful rendition of “Moon River” is another of the disc’s highlights, featuring Bradley Young on piano, and including a good lead on bass. The album concludes with “Moments In Time,” an original composition, with lyrics by Matt Barber and music by Day Kelly. This track features different musicians, with Day Kelly on piano and soprano saxophone, Barry Rigby on bass, Daniel Dennis on drums, and Madison Hardy on backing vocals. “We have today and then it’s over/Tomorrow comes we hope in peace/Days fade away, but you’ll still be there/Days fade away, you’ll still be there.” The album release party for this disc was held last November, but the album got a wider release on April 15, 2023.

Dave Bass: “The Trio Vol. 3” – Pianist and composer Dave Bass released The Trio Vol. 1 in 2021, and followed that the next year with The Trio Vol. 2. And now he is releasing The Trio Vol. 3. Featuring the same musicians as the previous volumes, Kerry Kashiwagi on double bass and Scott Gordon on drums, this new disc contains a mix of original material and covers. And it features guitarist Barry Finnerty joining the trio on a few tracks. The album opens with a beautiful and warm rendition of “As Long As There’s Music,” written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. This version goes in some interesting, unexpected directions. And speaking of interesting directions, the trio then tackles Monk’s “Criss Cross,” which soon becomes a rather fun number, that rhythm keeping it moving while Dave Bass is free to cut loose. That’s followed by the album’s first original composition, “Endless Waltz,” a song that Dave Bass also included on NYC Sessions, where it features vocalist Karrin Allyson. This new version is an instrumental track, the music having a strong sense of memory, of returning to another time. And soon we are immersed in it, a wonderful feeling. “Agenbite Of Inwit” is another original composition, this track being one of those to feature guitar. And the guitar is present in its opening moments. There is a sense of urgency to this track as it begins, and then it takes off, featuring some particularly delicious work on piano before that lead on guitar. This is a piece that Dave Bass previous included on No Boundaries. That is followed by a cover of “With A Song In My Heart.” I love that moment when it begins to swing, and I dig that lead on bass. “Blood” is an interesting piece, written by Annette Peacock. It begins with some piano work that becomes intense just as the others join in. It is exciting and unsettling. The trio delivers a second Monk tune on this album, “Played Twice,” delivering a fun rendition. I particularly enjoy that work on drums toward the end. The disc’s final two tracks feature Barry Finnerty on guitar. The first, “Libertango,” is a delicious dance. “Another Ending” also feels like a wonderful dance with a touch of magic to it as it begins. This is an original composition. The guitar gets a chance to sing and soar toward the end. This album is scheduled to be released on May 12, 2023.

Chembo Corniel Quintet: “Artistas, Músicos Y Poetas” – The new album from percussionist and composer Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Jr. opens with a track recorded back in 2014, “Volando Con Don Pancho Terry,” featuring Eliado Don Pancho Terry on vocals and shekere. Don Pancho Terry died a few years after this recording, and it is he who begins the track. And soon the others come in, and the rhythm of the piece lifts us and moves us. The quintet is made up of Chembo Corniel on tumbadoras, cajon, barril de bomba, bata drum, Quinto, shekere, gua-gua, clave, and guiro; Hery Paz on tenor saxophone and flute; Carlos Cuevas on piano and organ; Ian Stewart on electric bass; and Joel E. Mateo on drums, clave and cua. On this opening track, the musicians include Elio Villafranca on piano, Andrea Brachfeld on flute (Brachfeld also wrote this one), Vince Cherico on drums, Ruben Rodriguez on acoustic bass, and Ivan Renta on tenor saxophone. There is a good deal of excitement and joy in the playing, but there are also some mellower moments in the second half, where the piano becomes the focus. Then Ismael East Carlo joins the group on “P.R.I.D.E.,” delivering a spoken word part in this song of identity and empowerment. “We grow with our struggle and build with what we have.” I especially love that moment when this track begins to cook, the piano and drums driving things forward. And from there, the energy is tremendous, with some excellent work on saxophone and flute. “Child Of Wisdom” has an unusual tone as it starts, with something darker hinted at, drawing us in. This track features some good work by Agustin Someillan Garcia on trumpet. Then “Pa’La Ocha Tambo” is all about the rhythm, the work on drums wild and dynamic enough to get the dead back up on their feet. This track also features some exciting work on piano. That’s followed by “Lagrima De Monte,” one of the album’s most delightful numbers. It was composed by Joel E. Mateo, and has a catchy theme. And then I love that lead on saxophone in “Big City Gossip,” a piece that was written by Carlos Cuevas. This one has some interesting changes of moods, and the warm work on piano comes as a wonderful surprise. The album concludes with “Red Hook Rumba,” written by Chembo Corniel, and featuring spoken word by Felipe Luciano. This album was released on March 17, 2023.

Jan Cronin: “I Thought About You” – Jan Cronin’s new album finds the vocalist delivering her own takes of some beloved standards. On this release she is backed by only Andy Reiss on guitar and Jim Ferguson on bass. You can never go wrong with Gershwin, and this album kicks off with “‘S Wonderful” (listed as “S’ Wonderful” on the CD case, a common mistake). There is a cheer to the approach, particularly in that bass line, which feels like it is dancing. And the guitar lead has a sprightly vibe. And Jan Cronin’s delivery carries with it a sense of experience, which makes the lyrics all the more endearing and meaningful. That’s followed by “The Shadow Of Your Smile,” her voice here having a sexy quality. Just listen to the way she sings the lines “Look into my eyes, my love, and see/All the lovely things you are to me.” I love the way she dips into her lower registers on “my love” and “you are.” She keeps that mellow and intimate sound going with her rendition of “The Night We Called It A Day,” which features a pretty lead on guitar. The title track, “I Thought About You,” has a cool vibe, and Jan Cronin’s vocal performance is honest, almost like a confession, one that has her surprised. Even cooler is “The Scent Of Breakfast And You,” an original song co-written by Jan Cronin. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I open my eyes, the wave recedes/A wash of joy, the gift I receive.” I love the way this song struts about the place. Then “My Foolish Heart” has a deliciously intimate sound. Jan Cronin has fun with “Peel Me A Grape,” a song with an inherently playful aspect. “Best way to cheer me, cashmere me/I’m getting hungry/Peel me a grape.” That’s followed by a wonderful rendition of “Cry Me A River,” featuring a passionate vocal performance. The album opens with “Some Other Time,” its first lines speaking to those of us who notice the time racing on: “Where has the time all gone to/Haven’t done half the thing we want to.” The song has a late-night vibe, which is so effective, for it’s really about the time being late in the larger sense. “But let’s be glad for what we’ve had/And what’s to come.” This album is scheduled to be released on June 2, 2023.