Like Blue Note Records from 3 score years ago, Cellar Records is now the label most associated with classic hard bop sounds. Here are there two latest fingerpoppers.
Pianist Ben Paterson trios up with Neal Miner/b and Aaron Seber for a mix of soulful oriinls and covers. His own titlt tune has him bouncing like a Super Ball, while his lyrical touch glows on “Morning Perusal”. He gives a clsssy feel to “’Tis Autum” and goes gospel on a churchified “This Here” and late night “Chitlin’s Con Carne”. Rich rivulets and blue tones in delightful mixtures.
Pianist Mike LeDonne brings together allstars Eric Alexander/ts, Jeremy Pelt/tp, Vincent Hering/as, Alexander Claffy/b and Kenny Washington/dr for a muscle flexing mix of originals plus. Le Donne glows on his solo aria of “My One And Only Love” while tapping into his inner Tyner on his riveting modal “Continuum” with Alexander and Herring hitting the ozone layer. Claffy and Wash ington double time the crisp “JB” and Washington’s cymbals ride the bull whip on “Groundation”. LeDonne goes Silverish on “Shadows” and Pelt swaggers like a six shooter on the title tune, with Herirng sleek as chrome on a 49 Buick on “You’ll Never Know What You Mean To Me”. Recorded at Vancouver, BCsFrankie’s Jazz Club back in 2023, this was a series of nights I’m sorry to have missed. WHEW !