GEORGE'S BRIEFS

Rin Seo Collective; City Suite

Here is some highly creative and eminently listenable original music. Nearly all of it is written by composer and conductor Rin Seo, and it includes an assembly of brass, reeds, and rhythm, all playing “as one”. High marks for this kind of imaginative effort.

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 50 min.

UNLV Jazz Ensemble; Double Or Nothing

Some of the most swingin' music you're likely to hear nowadays is played by kids---that is, college kids like these terrific young people from University of Nevada at Las Vegas. And much of it is challenging and rewarding. But the UNLV Jazz Ensemble covers it with skill, poise, and honestly, great playing. Featuring music by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Bronislaw Kaper, Billy Strayhorn, and Duke Ellington, these guys and gals get the job done with excitement and virtuosity. College kids! Who would have thought of it?

Vegas Records; 2025; times not indicated.

Right Time Left; Thom Rotella

If you're a fan of the ton of guitar/organ material which has been around for years, you'll want to catch this one. First and foremost, it's not your usual funk orientation. It's a fast moving jazz album featuring numerous players, all of whom find their groove in the middle of the jazz boulevard. It's far from the “same old story” and I think you'll dig it.

High Note; 2025; appx. 50 min.

Todd Herbert; Captain Hubs

Somewhere in the legacy of John Coltrane, we find the hard hitting tenor sax of Todd Herbert. With an equally on-target rhythm section, Herbert takes on ten originals, both his own and those of others. If high energy prevails in your life, do check this one out.

TH Productions; 2025; appx. 61 min.

Rich Siegel; It's Always Been You

Pianist-singer Rich Siegel's trio presents a pleasant journey, mostly into obscure songs which are mainly tender ballads. This is the kind of music you'd enjoy hearing in an intimate jazz club or hotel bar. A few highlights include Siegel's title tune, “It's Always Been You', Jimmy Van Heusen's “Like Someone In Love”, and a rarity by Irving Berlin called “The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing”.

Self produced; 2025; 45:03

Andy Nevala; El rumbón

Pianist Andy Nevala gets deeply into a Latin groove with a very percussive orientation and a few “here and there” guests. Most of the bill features really well played originals. The three welcome exceptions are the pop hit “Isn't She Lovely”, Dizzy's classic “A Night In Tunisia”, and Coltrane's contribution, “Countdown”. Solid musicianship is the rule of the day. Latin fans, don't overlook this one.

Bill Coon; Standard Elegance

This CD is well titled because standards are the rule of the day and elegance reigns from the first note to the last. This is my initial encounter with guitarist Bill Coon. But I hope that it's the first of many. Playing luscious solo guitar, Coon weaves his magic through thirteen examples of artistic excellence. Just to give you an idea, how about “All The Things You Are”, “Yesterdays”, “But Beautiful”, “Prelude To A Kiss”, “East Of The Sun”, “Here's That Rainy Day”, and many more. Did I get your attention? Perhaps my personal fave is Django Reinhardt's “Nuages”, It's pronounced without the letter “s” and translates from French to the word “Clouds”. If you're a guitar lover---and I don't mean all these instruments lined up in pawn shops---well, you'll return to this stirring recital again and again.

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 50 min.

Al Muirhead; The Canada Sessions, Volume II

The subtitle of this delightful album is “Still Cookin' At 90”. That refers to the leader on this session, trumpet ace Al Muirhead. He and an assortment of Canadian pals (not every player is on every track) bring us a charming menu of standards, all of which are among your faves. Muirhead is a no frills, from the heart player who may bring to mind someone like Bobby Hackett. The ensemble tackles favorites like “Dancing On The Ceiling”, “More Than You Know”, “I Thought About You”, “All The Things You Are”, and more. Special kudos to singer Jocelyn Gould and Cathy Gyorgy who each perform on two tracks. If Volume 1 is as good as this one, I'd sure like to get my hands on it!

Chronograph Records Ltd., 2025; appx. 37 min.

Grant Stewart; Next Spring

Grant Stewart; Next Spring

While on the path of outstanding tenor sax players, you need to give Grant Stewart some attention. It's a pleasure to hear his boppy, straight presence down the heart of the jazz highway. On this new and impressive session, Stewart is joined by Tardo Hammer, piano; Paul Sikivie, bass, and Grant's brother, Phil Stewart, drums. The nine choices examined here come from a diverse collection of composers with names like Wayne Shorter, Barry Harris, Victor Young, Bob Mover, Thelonious Monk, and Jerome Kern, among others. The surprise of the set is a rarity called “Kiss and Run”. I remember it as a dreamy vocal by the underrated singer Bill Henderson. Stewart throughout is a top tier tenor titan. He and his colleagues have given us yet another album to be played and enjoyed for years to come.

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 56 min.

JD Allen; Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions)

If, like me, you are forever enamored by the treasures of The Great American Songbook,  you really need to check into tenor sax man JD Allen. He and his very connected rhythm section treat us to eight tender and beautiful ballads on these “forever” tunes. With Brandon McCune, piano; Ian Kenselaar, bass; and Nic Cacioppo, drums, Allen's quartet reminds us of the exceptional quality of such winning melodies as “You Are Too Beautiful”, “I Get Along Without You Very Well”, “Don't Go To Strangers”, My Buddy”, and more. Allen's big, rich tenor tone reminds me a bit of Gene Ammons and it doesn't get much better than that. All said, this recording delivers classic songwriting and first rate playing. Get your ears on it!

Savant; 2025; appx. 45 min.

Answers:

1. Tangerine
2. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
3. If I Knew Then
4. Day By Day
5. It's A Blue World
6. We've Got A World That Swings
7. You've Got Me Cryin' Again
8. In This Whole Wide World
9. Candy
10. This October
11. Sweet Lorraine
12. Whistle Me Some Blues

HAVE SOME FUN WITH GEORGE'S QUIZZES!

Here are some lyric portions of songs made famous by The four Freshmen. How many can you identify? Answers tomorrow

1. she is all they say
2. on a hill where robins sing
3. we would never have drifted apart
4. I'm in love to stay
5. the sea, the sky
6. we can live like kings
7. what is this love all about
8. Is there someone to love me
9. she understands me
10. an Indian summer girl
11. a brand new cho choo toy
12. mr. engineer