It seems so simple to create it, yet so few artists are able to do it: namely, make an acoustic jazz disc, not too out there, having some good melodies with well constructed solos performed by artists who have their own distinct sound and style. Is that REALLY too much to ask? Here are two examples of what I’m looking for. Thank you.
Pianist Joe Alterman leads a snappy little trio, with guest work by the smoky Houston Person on tenor, on this delightful collection of tunes. Alterman’s got a nice poignant touch on the ivories with dashes of effluent grace, and he works with the team of Herman Riley/dr and James Cammack/b like they were part of a double play combination.They can go funky, as on the very hip “Georgia On My Mind” or be playful like kids running through sprinklers on “An Affair To Remember.” Person, meanwhile, uses his husky tenor (one of the wonders of present day music) to deliver arias on songs like “I Guess I’ll Have to Dream the Rest” or can get finger licking sticky on ‘Kelly’s Blues.” Comfort food music with an extra tang!
Go on. I dare you to disagree with me that LA based Joe La Barbera isn’t the best living guy behind the traps these days. Taste, style, flexibility, drive. What do you want? Moog synthesizers?!? He’s put out a handful of releases on this label, and this is one of his best. He teams up again with long time buddies Clay Jenkins/tp, Bob Sheppard/ts-ss, Bill Cunliffe/p and Tom Warrington/b for a mix of band composed pieces and clever covers. Material like “Affluencia,” with Shepard on soprano, or the gentle bopping of “Bradley’s 2am?” with Jenkins’ warm horn, is about as tasty, slick and cool as you’ll ever want to get. They can get a bit experimental as well, going tricky and clever on “Bit Your Grandmother,” but their heart of hearts is on lively grooves, as on the tribute to Horace Silver on “Silver Streams” that captures soul jazz at its best, or the cooking closer “EJ’s Blues” where La Barbera closes the disc with a swift little display on why he’s the #1 guy with the sticks. Check this guy out. He’s always in town somewhere, and you don’t want to take him for granted.
Miles High Records
Jazz Compass Records