Very Early

An octet is the perfect environment to explore the many possibilities of arrangements, textures and colors within each composition, with Octobop’s latest release Very Early, titled after the Bill Evans tune, the ensemble exhibits an updated cool jazz offering. Very Early is Octobop’s fourth recording following the well-received releases, After Dark, Night Lights and Too Close for Comfort. What each recording has in common is a clear and evident respect for West Coast cool jazz in its splendor. West Coast genius Marty Paich’s arrangements find their way onto all of the Octobop releases, which also guides the releases signature sound.

When The Night Is New

Even though Jazz vocalist Abigail Riccards is still in the beginning stages of her career, she has already been the recipient of some significant awards, including Downbeat’s Outstanding Collegiate Vocalist (2002) and, along with her bandmates, Downbeat’s Outstanding Collegiate Vocal Jazz Group (2004). Demonstrating all the sensibilities of a seasoned jazz singer, Riccards, who has performed with the likes of George Duke, Mulgrew Miller, and numerous other noteworthy artists, will soon no doubt have many critical accolades to add to her press kit with the December 3rd release of her glorious dbut CD, When The Night Is New (Jazz Excursion Records).

The album consists of twelve love songs, comprised for the most part of classic tunes or standards, the exception being her interpretation of Sting’s “I Was Brought To My Senses.” Her sensitive retelling of Sting’s ballad provides clear proof that Riccards is a storyteller par excellence. Her phrasing and inflection bring the lyrics to life and the romantic tales unfold before us. David Berkman provides a great piano accompaniment and Lage Lund turns in a solid performance on guitar.

• Facts: Real Emotional (2007); Stigers’s 8th CD, his 5th for Concord, and his 3rd collaboration with keyboardist/arranger Larry Goldings as producer/co-producer. Dedicated to the memory of Michael Brecker.
• Synopsis: The 12 tracks include originals by Stigers & Goldings as well as a range of covers, from Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris to Paul Simon, Mose Allison, and Randy Newman, along with the jazz obbligato, Hoagy Carmichael (“Stardust”).
• Personnel: Curtis Stigers, vocals, saxophone; Larry Goldings, keyboards, accordion, glockenspiel, all arrangements; Matthew Fries, piano; John Pizzarelli, guitar; John Sneider, trumpet; Phil Palombi, bass; Keith Hall, drums.
• FMI: www.curtisstigers.com

Real Emotional

Chris Greene Quartet

I receive many requests to review CDs, mostly from local Midwest area bands, but some from as far a field as Europe and Asia. One of the problems that I find in reviewing local musicians (wherever “local” may be situated) is that these efforts are often nothing more than vanity records, something to sell at gigs and to give a feeling of self-importance. When soul and science, volume one by Chris Greene’s quartet dropped into my mail box a few days ago, I had no qualms about reviewing it, having witnessed the band playing around the Chicago area for the last few years. My only concern was whether the quartet could capture on CD the raw energy that they generate when playing to a live audience. I needn’t have worried, the “live jazz” feeling was captured on disc perfectly.  

The quartet incudes Chris Greene (saxophones), Damian Espinosa (piano), Marc Piane (bass), and Tyrone Blair (drums). This five-track album certainly shows the quartet’s musical diversity, featuring music composed by soul legend Stevie Wonder; rocker Sting; jazzman Tommy Turrentine; bandleader Duke Ellington, together with a band original to complete the set.  

Rising Sun

Close your eyes and think about the very best Belgian chocolate truffle melting on the tip of your tongue. Imagine the lingering taste of the finest French red wine. Now you are in the mood for Rising Sun, the new CD from soprano saxophonist/flautist Najee on the Heads Up label. Sisaundra Lewis’s words, “If this would last forever,” from the opening track “Clarity,” express what you will feel as you listen to this wonderful CD. I know I could easily have listened to the lush songs on this album, over and over again (and I did). This collection of songs boasts some great R&B vibes mixed with some excellent smooth jazz grooves.

“Clarity” was written by John Mayer (yes, that John Mayer!), just one of several outstanding songwriters (including Najee) whose tunes appear on this album. The gorgeous arrangements and excellent musicianship testify to why Rising Sun debuted in the number one spot on Billboard’s jazz charts. The warm deep notes of Nick Reider’s flugelhorn regularly complement the higher soprano voice of Najee’s saxophone. The sensitive piano chops of Phil Davis emerge during his solo in “Child At Heart,” a song in which Najee sparkles on one of the many instruments with which he is skilled, the flute.

My Foolish Heart - Live at Montreux

My current commitment to jazz—as a listener—can be traced to encounters with three musicians at three points in time: As a ten-year-old, my introduction to what I recognized as “jazz” came via the swinging trumpet of Jonah Jones on a recording that my dad gave me, probably for my birthday. Soon I acquired some Pete Fountain and Al Hirt. The Beatles and Stones intervened, but as a new college graduate, I remember hearing the local radio station playing Keith Jarrett’s Facing You. Fascinated, I bought the album (yeah, an LP) and over the next few years collected whatever Jarrett I could find. A classical music phase followed (which of course did not preclude Jarrett!). At age 40, with a new stereo system, I started my collection of the then-still-new format, Compact Discs. One of my first purchases was Oscar Peterson—maybe Night Train or the Essential Oscar Peterson. I remain an OP collector. But Keith Jarrett always held a special shelf in my library.