Subtitled, “Live In Portland,” this album features pianist Ezra Weiss teaming up with his band of Farnell Newton/tp, John Nastos/as, Devin Phillips/ts, Jon Shaw/b and Christopher Brown/dr on a couple of shows at the Ivories Jazz Lounge in front of a fun loving Oregon crowd. Everyone gets a chance to stretch out here on a collection of originals and standards, with Weiss showing some impressive work on “Don’t Need No Ticket” that has a great gospel feel. The horns do some nice clip clopping on “The Five A.M. Strut” while Newton’s horn has a good time on “Jessie’s Song.” Phillip’s thick tenor gives a tribute to Coltrane on ”Alabama” and Nastos’ alto clears the sky on ”A Foggy Day.” Casual but focused, it’s a nice way to beat the rain along the Oregon Trail.
Roark Records