Mainstream jazz label CellarMusic has two new releases for the hard bopping huddled masses.
Big toned tenor Cory Weeds surrounds himself with a “little” small band for a mix of originals and hard boppers. “The team sounds Rat Packing on “Power Station” and peppy for “Corner Kisses”. Weeds is hip and at home for the easy swinging title tune by Horace Silver, and is pepper for the bookened “Metamorphosis”. Bassist John Lee and drummer Jesse Cahill are nimble on the breezy take of “Thedia” and the sections swagger on “Lullaby Of The Leaves”. Hip to the bone
Vibist Atley King forms a post bo unit with Max Huberdeau/p, Brad Turner/fh, David Caballero/b and ARrvind Ramdas/dr on a collection of originals, plus one. The extra tune is the boldest one, an extroverted read of John Coltrane’s “Naima”. From there, the vibes ad piano are delicate on “Attachment”, and Huberdeau is rich on a graceful “For Our Friends”. Ramdas is rumbline in a joyful way on “Context” and Caballero digs in under Turner for “Doing Good”. King is pastoral throughout, glistening on the pretty “Now and Then” and chiming with resonance on “To Each Their Own”. Pastels in vibes.