In jazz, there is “obscure” there’s “overlooked” and then there’s “unknown.” Pianist and composer Tadd Dameron was a major contributor to the early days of bebop and hard bop, with some classic compositions to his credit like “Our Delight,” “Hot House” and “If You Could See Me Now.” He tended to stay in the background of the music scene, so he’s fairly unknown, and in this day his writing genius is generally overlooked.
Saxist and arranger Paul Combs brings out obscure and previously unrecorded Dameronia, and the result is a highly pleasing and wide ranging mix of clever melodies and grooves. Combs uses a mix and match approach to the tunes, with artists including Derek Cannon/tp, bassists Rob Thorsen, Alex Frank and Jeff Denson, pianists Melonie Grinnell, Ken Cook and Bill Cunliffe, percussionists Alex Aspinall or Richard Sellars and vocalist Danielle Wertz for this dozen bon mots.
The team bops well with horn and Combs’ tenor on the puffy pattern of “Conversation” with a hep strut on “A La Bridges” and an uptown “Don’t Forget” with Cunliffe and Frank in a classy mood. The horns breeze through a hep and harmonious “The Rampage” with Combs’ alto gracing the lovely “Come Close.” Wertz is cheery on the bossa “Weekend” and misty on the floating “Neve Been In Love” with soft sensuality emoted for a delightful “Take A Chance On Spring.” These are tunes that have been composed with care, and arranged with prideful love. Check this one out for timeless thoughts of vintage sounds.
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