Brief Notes On New Jazz Releases

Is the country approaching the end of its national nightmare? Sometimes it seems like it, but then again nearly half the country still supports the main criminal, and the only members of the Republican Party willing to speak up are running against him. Too little, too late from that untrustworthy group of opportunists. I’ve always stayed away from the idea of good guys versus bad guys, for it’s too simplistic, but here we are. If not good guys versus bad guys, we have at least potentially good guys versus unquestionably bad guys. But in the music realm, it is still basically all good guys (with some notable exceptions), or at least folks doing good work, providing that emotional and spiritual lift that we crave. Here are notes on a few new jazz releases you might be interested in checking out.

The 14 Jazz Orchestra: “Islands” – The new release from this big band is dedicated to the memory of one of its founding members, Neal Bonsanti, who performed on the group’s previous release, Cartoon Bebop, but was too ill during the recording of this one to participate. He was the brother of Dan Bonsanti, who co-produced, arranged and orchestrated this album. The band kicks off the album with a lively rendition of “Man From Tanganyika,” composed by McCoy Tyner. This track features some great work by Ed Maina on flute, by Mike Levine on piano, and by Peter Erskine on drums. I especially love that drum solo in the second half. That’s followed by the album’s title track, “Islands,” which was written by Mike Mainieri, who plays vibraphone on it. The track does give you the feel of being on an island, but perhaps not just on vacation, as the opening moments hint at some intrigue, or at least excitement that interrupts the otherwise relaxing and enjoyable time. Peter Erskine also plays drums on this track, delivering great stuff as always, and this track also features some cool work by Ed Calle on tenor saxophone. The album also includes original compositions by pianist Mike Levine, the first of which is “Part Of Me,” a play on “All Of Me,” containing some really nice work by John Lovell on flugelhorn. That’s followed by another original composition by Levine, “Carmencita,” arranged by both Levine and Bonsanti. This one has a pretty and fairly smooth vibe, featuring some wonderful work by Ed Calle on soprano saxophone, and takes on more energy as it progresses. The band’s recording of “The Jitterbug Waltz” is dedicated to the memory of Vince Maggio, who died in 2021. The arrangement is by Dan Bonsanti and Mike Levine. Something about this piece makes me feel good, light. It features more great work by Ed Calle on soprano sax, as well as some good stuff by Mike Brignola on bass clarinet. But what I especially love is that lead on piano near the end, and the work by Jamie Ousley on bass supporting it. That’s followed by “Jaco,” another original piece by Mike Levine, who included a different rendition of it on his 2017 album Star Gazing. I love the work on saxophone on this new version. The band covers Dave Liebman’s “Loft Dance,” a piece from Liebman’s 1975 album Drum Ode, and on this track Dave Liebman sits in on soprano saxophone. As with the original, there is a whole lot of great percussion. Lee Levin is on drums, and Richard Bravo is on percussion. It is a wild, lively, exciting number, though not quite as long as the original recording. The album then concludes with “When She Loved Me,” a mellower number written by Randy Newman, and featuring some pretty work by Randy Bernsen on acoustic guitar. This album was released on July 21, 2023.

Kevin O’Connell Quartet: “Hot New York Minutes” – With an album title like that, you might think this disc would be filled with the shortest tracks, but they are, for the most part, of average length. But the band certainly wastes no time, and with the first track, “Newest Blues,” they get right to some delicious playing. Kevin O’Connell Quartet is made up of Kevin O’Connell on piano, Adam Brenner on alto saxophone and tenor saxophone, Paul Gill on bass, and Mark Taylor on drums. Kevin O’Connell cuts loose on this first track during his lead, delivering some cheerful work, over that wonderful rhythm. And when all four musicians are cooking together, it seems that nothing is wrong in the city. Things are moving, there is that bustle, but it is a stress-free movement. And in the second half, we get a cool lead on bass, following by a short drum solo. That’s followed by an original composition by Kevin O’Connell, “One For Cliff,” with Adam Brenner shining early on during that main theme. And things are moving during Kevin O’Connell’s lead. Then “Boo Deh Dah” is a piece written by Adam Brenner, and this one also moves and grooves, and also features some excellent saxophone work early on. Power and freedom are two key components of his playing here. Kevin O’Connell seems to urge us to dance with abandon during his lead. And from the lead on bass, it feels like that instrument has accepted that invitation to dance. It’s a catchy and playful bass lead. That’s followed by another original composition, “Playa Culebrita,” this one written by Kevin O’Connell. From the photos I’ve seen, this beach is beautiful, and this track reflects that beauty, with its relaxed vibe and Latin rhythm. Listening to this track makes me wish I were at such a place with my girlfriend, the rest of the world just disappearing. How can you fail to be at ease while listening to that gorgeous work on saxophone? And Kevin O’Connell’s lead is so warm, his playing seeming to wish love and beauty to all who might listen. Another highlight is “Blue Seven,” also composed by Kevin O’Connell. It’s a sexy blues number, featuring some seriously cool work. “One For George,” written by Adam Brenner, is an energetic number that swings and pulses with life, moving at a good pace. The quartet chooses to cover two compositions by Bill Lee, the first being “Biskit,” a lively number which, as you might expect, features some great stuff on bass, right from the start. The other is “A Thought,” a mellower and pretty piece that closes out the album. This album was released on May 15, 2023.

Darden Purcell: “Love’s Got Me In A Lazy Mood” – Darden Purcell is a vocalist who has performed with the Airmen Of Note, as well as several other artists. She put out her first album, Easy Living, in 2009, and followed it in 2016 with Where The Blue Begins. She opens her new album with a seriously cool, bluesy rendition of “Willow Weep For Me,” which features a strong vocal performance. This track is a delight, and Darden Purcell includes a bit of scat in the middle, adding her voice to the jam. The band backing her is made up of Joe Locke on vibraphone, Shawn Purcell on guitar, Todd Simon on piano, Jeff Reed on acoustic bass, and Todd Harrison on drums. I particularly like the bass work on this opening track, and there is a really nice lead on vibraphone. That’s followed by the album’s title track, which eases in, and features a beautiful vocal performance. The mood she speaks of will become your mood too, the way her vocals will affect you. Maybe not lazy exactly, but relaxed and feeling good, dreamy. Plus, this track features some wonderful stuff on piano. And then “Come Back To Me” features a great rhythm, as well as a delicious lead on guitar. “In a Rolls or a van/Wrapped in mink or Saran/Anyway that you can/Come back to me.” Well, I’d prefer the mink personally, but I suppose the Saran might be kinky in its own way. Darden Purcell’s delivery of “I Concentrate On You” has an intimacy from the start that helps pull us in, and this is such a good song choice in this strange and troubled time when it makes more sense than ever to focus on those we love. She also shines on “A Cottage For Sale,” giving a moving performance, supported by some beautiful work on piano. “Chatterbox” is an original composition by Shawn Purcell and Darden Purcell. It gets off to a great start with some delicious work on bass, and then becomes even more enjoyable with Darden’s lively vocal line. “But you have got to learn to find your own groove/Don’t you know that you’re smarter than they are/Someday we’ll read about you in your memoir.” This is one of my personal favorite tracks. It is a delight. That instrumental section features some particularly good work on guitar, followed by a groovy bass lead. Her recording of “Taking A Chance On Love” is fun and bright, and provides a dose of optimism. “We will have our happy ending now/Taking a chance on love.” And each of the musicians gets a chance to shine, making this track another of the disc’s highlights. Darden Purcell changes gears for the album’s final track, a moving version of “You’ve Changed,” which begins with some beautiful work on vibraphone, and features a gorgeous, heartbreaking vocal performance. “You’ve changed/That sparkle in your eye is gone.” This album is scheduled to be released on September 15, 2023.

Michael Ragonese: “Stracci” – Michael Ragonese is a pianist and composer based in Los Angeles. He released his first album in 2019, and is now following that with Stracci, which features mostly original material. Joining him on this album are Luca Alemanno on bass and Mark Ferber on drums. From the moment the first track, “Solar,” begins with that delicious and exciting rhythm, I am completely on board. This track is one of only two covers. It was written by Chuck Wayne and recorded by Miles Davis. Michael Ragonese delivers a fun and wild rendition. That’s followed by an original composition, “Escape,” which has a rather pretty and warm beginning, opening like a new day, full of hope. And then after a minute or so, it begins to move, to focus in on specific activity. There are moments when it seems shocking that there are only three musicians playing, for the sound is so full, so exciting. And then in the second half, it does relax a bit, but is no less interesting for it. And then as the piano work gets pretty again, the drumming begins to pick up more energy as the track moves to its conclusion. “In Attesa” has a more somber vibe at the start, featuring some excellent work on bass. But it is that pretty piano work that especially moves me. Then in the second half, things start to build dramatically. “Tides Of Tomorrow Pt. 1” begins with some beautiful and contemplative piano work, and then starts to feel like dance you engage in with memories. Soon the bass is pushing things forward, and the dance now feels more urgent, more tangible. “Tides Of Tomorrow Pt. 2” begins in a darker place, the piano with a somber and lonesome tone. Partway through, it grows, becomes busier, but maintains something of that sense of melancholy. It doesn’t often rain in Los Angeles, but when it does, the city seems to change, and “La Pioggia” captures the feeling of the city then. The motion of the city might be the same, but the mood is different. You can almost hear the rain, and the splash of tires moving through deep puddles on the streets on this track. That is followed by the album’s second cover, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” a sharp change in tones from the previous track, this one have a sweet and warm feel. It features an excellent lead on bass. The album then concludes with “Copycat,” which has an intriguing rhythm. This track builds in excitement as it progresses. This album is scheduled to be released August 24, 2023.

Nic Vardanega: “New Beginning” – Nic Vardanega is a guitarist and composer, currently based in New York City. His new album features the trio of Nic Vardanega on guitar, Ben Allison on bass, and Allan Mednard on drums. It contains all original music, written by Nic Vardanega. The album opens with its title track, which has a kind of sweet and soothing sound from the start, yet with something growing within, something positive that looks toward a future not just of relaxation but of some productivity as well. In the last several years, since the start of the pandemic, I think a lot of folks have been itching for a new beginning, particularly one that sounds like this music. The track’s main theme is pretty, but there is more going on here, and all three musicians have moments where they shine. That’s followed by “Cardenas,” which also has a somewhat relaxed vibe, yet seems to be building toward something, that sense heard particularly in the bass work. And in the middle, there is activity, even tension, but still, there is a sense of ability, of being capable to face whatever it is that is coming our way. Then, as “Side Effects” progresses, there are varying moods competing within, ways of dealing with whatever it is found without. In the second half, the guitar takes us on a journey that is part self-exploration. One of my favorite tracks is “Looking Back,” the main theme seeming to exist in memory, and inviting us to go back. One thing I love about this is that invitation is made with both love and understanding. Each of us might find something different back there, but the music will act as a guide through our own pasts, reminding us that nothing there can harm us. And suddenly we realize we are also looking forward. Then “Inner Episode” is a more lively and forceful piece, featuring some excellent work on drums throughout. There is something of the past in “Glass Moon” too, something from childhood visiting us in the present, in a slightly varied guise. I love the way the guitar works with the rhythm, and the way the piece grows. Then “Summers” has a rock vibe and sound, and the guitar work has a catchy element. The album concludes with “M’s Lullaby,” a mellow, sweet and loving piece. This album was released on June 23, 2023.