Brief Notes On New Jazz Releases

Here are notes on a few new jazz releases you might be interested in checking out.

Sylvia Brooks: “Live With Christian Jacob” – This new album from vocalist Sylvia Brooks was recorded live at Herb Albert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill, and finds her revisiting some material she released on her studio albums. Joining her on this release are Christian Jacob on piano, David Hughes on bass, Kevin Kanner on drums, David Witham on keyboards and accordion, Jeff Bunnell on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Brian Scanlon on tenor saxophone and flute. She opens the album with a delicious rendition of “When The Sun Comes Out,” written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. It’s a song she recorded for her debut album, 2009’s Dangerous Liaisons. There is something sexy about this rendition, in the horns and in her vocal approach, particularly the power behind it. And of course it features some really nice work on piano. She follows that with another song composed by Harold Arlen, “Blues In The Night,” this one co-written by Johnny Mercer and included on Brooks’ 2012 album Restless. This is a cool version right from that moment when the bass begins that great line a few seconds in. So good. And check out Jeff Bunnell’s work. But of course it’s Sylvia Brooks’ excellent vocal performance that is at the heart of the track. She is in total command, and especially I love her delivery of the word “blow” in the line “Wherever the four winds blow.” Just the way she holds onto that word, she holds us all in her grip simultaneously. She puts her own spin on “Cold Cold Heart,” a song by Hank Williams that she included on her 2017 album The Arrangement. This track features a great saxophone lead, and a bit of scat from Sylvia Brooks at the end. There are also a few original compositions on this disc. The first, “The Red Pig Flew Up The Hill,” was written by Christian Jacob, and was included on the 2019 Christian Jacob Trio album, The Originals. Sylvia Brooks gives a spoken word introduction to this one, but does not sing on it. It’s the disc’s only instrumental track, and as you might guess from its title, it’s a fairly fun one, and provides moments for each of the musicians to shine. The second original number is “The Flea Markets Of Paris,” written by Sylvia Brooks and Christian Jacob, and included on Brooks’ 2022 release, Signature. This one features some good work on accordion, and some warm, beautiful work on piano. And speaking of beautiful, how is this for a beautifully sad line: “I was here years ago back when he loved me.” The final original track is “Holding Back Tears,” also composed by Sylvia Brooks and Christian Jacob, and also included on Signature. In this pretty number, Sylvia Brooks asks, “How do you let go of something/That grabs ahold of your heart?/Why did I let that something/Fall apart?” The album concludes with a strong rendition of “Come Rain Or Come Shine,” featuring one of the album’s best vocal performances. This album was released on September 10, 2023.

Angela DeNiro: “Swingin’ With Legends 2” – In the late 1990s, vocalist Angela DeNiro released Swingin’ With Legends, with the Ron Aprea Orchestra. Now DeNiro, with the Ron Aprea Big Band, has released a second volume. It contains mostly covers, along with one composition by Ron Aprea. The album opens with a seriously cool rendition of “New York City Blues,” written by Quince Jones and Peggy Jones. Angeles DeNiro delivers a phenomenal vocal performance, and there is a tremendous energy from the brass section as the number kicks into higher gear a minute in. Things start to swing then. There is excitement and joy to this rendition, it feeling like a celebration of the city, of the movement and motion of the people there. Check out Bryan Davis’ work on trumpet. Then “You’d Be So Easy To Love” begins with a wonderful clarinet solo by Ken Peplowski, before this track too takes on a good energy and starts to swing, featuring a good bass line that keeps everything moving. Angela DeNiro delivers some fun scat in the track’s second half, and you can hear her smile in every syllable of the lyrics after that section. Randy Brecker’s excellent work on trumpet sets a beautiful and thoughtful tone at the beginning of Angela DeNiro’s rendition of “Hello Young Lovers.” Then suddenly the song takes off like a rocket, zooming across the landscape. Wonderful stuff here, with Randy Brecker delivering more great work. There is also a whole lot of energy to the rendition of “Willow Weep For Me” on this album, this version moving faster than most, and Angela’s scat is lively and also pretty. And check out that saxophone! Todd Bashore’s work here is fantastic. Then Lew Tabackin begins “It Might As Well Be Spring” with a great tenor saxophone solo. This track also features a beautiful and warm vocal performance from Angela DeNiro, and then halfway through, the pace picks up. “Two For The Road” features another of this disc’s best vocal performances. The drum work stands out on “On Green Dolphin Street,” a track that swings. Todd Bashore again delivers some excellent work on alto saxophone, and that scat section flies along with a great energy. Angela DeNiro then slows things down for a gorgeous rendition of “My One And Only Love,” which features some nice work on piano. The composition by Ron Aprea is “For Phil,” a song written for saxophonist Phil Woods. Angela DeNiro recorded this song before, including it on Shining Hour. This new version features Todd Bashore on alto saxophone. The album concludes with “The Curtain Falls,” with Angela DeNiro turning in another wonderful performance. This album was released on June 18, 2023.

The Flying Horse Big Band: “A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band” – The new album from The Flying Horse Big Band celebrates the music of the Jazz Messengers, a group that started in 1947, led by drummer Art Blakey, and continued, in various configurations, for several decades. This album gets off to a great start with “Free For All,” composed by Wayne Shorter and used as the title track to a 1965 Jazz Messengers album. The arrangement here is by Michael Philip Mossman, who briefly played with the Jazz Messengers. The track features some excellent work on saxophone, plus a cool lead on guitar. And just before the end there is a good drum solo. Michael Philip Mossman also did the arrangement for this album’s rendition of “Gregory Is Here.” “Free For All” is followed by “Hipsippy Blues,” written by Hank Mobley, and included on the 1959 live album At The Jazz Corner Of The World. This is an incredibly cool number, with a delightful bass line, a great trumpet lead, and an overall wonderful vibe. This track swings and grooves, and should help push aside your blues. This one also has a nice drum solo toward the end. The arrangement is by Harry Allen. “Room 608,” composed by Horace Silver, was released as a single in 1956. This track, arranged by Mark Taylor, cooks, and features some great stuff on saxophone. The bass and drums keep this one moving, and your blues will be quickly left behind. Yeah, this music will lift your spirits, no question. “This Is For Albert” begins on bass and drums, sneaking in, then opening up like a sun rising over the city. It has that warmth, and is in no hurry. This piece was written by Wayne Shorter, and included on the 1963 album Caravan. Things start really moving again on “Mosaic,” a tune composed by Cedar Walton. There is a lot of great stuff happening on this track, but I tend to focus on the drums, which seem to want everyone engaged in a wild, joyous dance. Your body will want the same thing while this track is playing. And, yes, there is a delicious drum solo in the second half. The arrangement is by Don Sickler. The tempo relaxes then for “Peace,” written by Horace Silver. Another fun and fast-paced number is Wayne Shorter’s “Lester Left Town.” I love the way this one moves, the brass section taking us on a great ride. This is one of my personal favorites. It’s followed by “Whisper Not,” which features a good bass line and excellent work on saxophone. It was written by Benny Golson. The album then concludes with “On The Ginza,” a lively number composed by Wayne Shorter. This album is scheduled to be released on November 27, 2023.

Andy Pratt: “Trio” – Guitarist Andy Pratt’s new album contains a good mix of material, from Gershwin and Porter to a movie theme by Jerry Goldsmith. Joining him on this release are Joe Policastro on bass, and Phil Gratteau on drums. The album opens with a Gershwin number, “Soon,” which begins with some solo guitar work. I’ve said it before, but you can never go wrong with Gershwin, and this is a delightful way to kick off the album. There is both warmth and joy to his guitar playing, and the track is almost certain to lift your spirits. The bass and drums get a chance to shine in the second half. That’s followed by “Little White Lies,” a song written by Walter Donaldson. Joe Policastro begins this one on bass, delivering a wonderful introduction, and his work throughout the track is a large part of its appeal. Also part of the draw here is Andy Pratt’s vocal performance. His voice tells us he knows the score, but would make the same choice again and again, and so there is a great feel to the track. “I try, but there’s no forgetting/When evening appears/I sigh, but there’s no regretting/In spite of my tears.” The vibe then changes with “When Joanna Loved Me,” a song written by Robert Wells and Jack Segal, and made popular by Tony Bennett. Here the nostalgia and yearning are clear in Andy Pratt’s voice. “When Joanna loved me/Every town was Paris/Every day was Sunday.” This is a beautiful rendition. Andy Pratt changes gears again with “Patricia,” which begins with some good work on drums. And it is the rhythm that is the focus here, and you might find yourself swaying to this track. Andy Pratt delivers some excellent guitar work, particularly during that lead in the middle. Then he gives us a wonderful vocal performance on “We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me).” He picks up the pace with Cole Porter’s “From This Moment On,” providing a fun rendition that features some excellent guitar work and a delicious rhythm. So when at the end he sings, “Every care is gone/From this moment, from this moment, from this moment on,” we believe him. The movie theme that Andy Pratt covers on this album is “Love Theme From Chinatown (Main Title),” composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It has a somewhat different vibe on guitar, but this track captures that mood perfectly, and features a strong lead on bass. Andy Pratt wraps up the album with a couple of songs written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, “There’s Always Something There To Remind Me” and “Something Big.” When I was growing up, Naked Eyes had a big hit with “There’s Always Something There To Remind Me,” but before that it had been a hit for both Lou Johnson and Sandie Shaw. Andy Pratt slows the tempo a bit for his rendition, delivering a thoughtful and moving version. His version of “Something Big” has a cheerful vibe. “Now there’ll be joy and there’ll be laughter/Something big is what I’m after now.” This album is scheduled to be released on January 12, 2024.

Sam Ross: “Live At The Mira Room Vol. II” – In 2021, pianist and composer Sam Ross released a disc titled Live At The Mira Room, containing six original compositions. He has now followed that with a second volume, also containing all original material. Sam Ross plays both piano and electric on this disc, and is joined by Simba Distis on upright bass and electric bass, and Dr. Mimi Mured on drums, both of whom also played on the first volume. The album opens with “Breakfast For Dinner,” which begins with some solo piano work, having a light and rather cheerful vibe. Approximately a minute in, the bass joins him, and the track takes an undeniably cooler turn, while that light feel is maintained. And then after another thirty seconds or so, the drums kick in, and that’s when things really start to move. The crowd responds enthusiastically. Things are grooving and swinging, these three musicians getting loose. That’s followed by “New Shoes,” this one set in motion by the bass. It has a soulful, kind of laid-back vibe and attitude, and quite sure of itself. It has that kind of character, you know? And check out that great lead on bass. It is then that things get interesting, the way both the piano and drums take that opportunity to get a bit wild. I especially love that work on drums. The audience rightly applauds that section. This is one of my personal favorites. “What is TOP” has interesting opening section, the piano repeating a few notes. Things soon get exciting, and again the crowd is unable to keep from reacting, from responding. The trio is seriously cooking now. There is a delicious bass lead partway through, and that drum work is fantastic. There is a surprising pause and turn in the second half, catching the crowd off guard. It’s all just so damn good. Near the end, the piano returns to that bit from the opening, while the bass and drums let loose again. Then we get “New Socks.” Makes sense, right? We got new shoes, so we need the socks to go along with them. For this one, Sam Ross is on electric piano, and he begins this one, delivering some catchy and funky work. There are two different sections to this piece, and the trio shifts back and forth between them. These guys seem to be having a great time, and the crowd begins to clap along at a certain point. Sam Ross is also on keyboard for “Dear Chick,” the album’s closing number, a tribute to Chick Corea., another track to feature some excellent work on bass. I particularly love the section with the keyboard and bass responding to each other, and then working together. This album was released on November 3, 2023.