GEORGE'S BRIEFS

Chad LB; The Shadow Of Your Smile

Tenor saxophonist Chad LB displays highest level energy on material ranging from Eric Clapton to Jimmy Van Heusen to Johnny Mandel to someone named JS Bach! Wow, talk about something for everyone! LB is tender and perfect on “Shadow” and nicely upbeat on “It Could Happen To You”. He also gets into screech and scream mode on other selections and is over the top for these ears.

Self produced; 2025; appx. 52 min.

Jung Stratmann; Confluence

This very cohesive quartet of piano, bass, drums, and guitar gives us five original compositions with every emotion ranging from jazz to some classical orientation, and even a new age thought. Very nice for a hot cup of tea on a rainy winter night.

Self produced; 2025; appx. 29 min.

Todd Zimberg; Not A Tango

This trio session is under the leadership of drummer Todd Zimberg and features the spicy and fresh presence of Michael Gotz on piano and Perry Thoorsell on bass. “Birk's Works” and “Beautiful Love” are the two familiar choices but the trio also provides several well served and spirited originals. Nothing earth changing here but certainly to these ears, this is in the realm of straight ahead piano trio tradition.

Spring Beach Music; 2025; times not indicated

David Sneider; Introducing David Sneider

David Sneider shows us a hard swinging trumpet style perhaps out of the Freddie Hubbard bag. On this session of five originals and standards “Bye Bye Blackbird” and Monk's opus “Hackensack”, Sneider is at times fiery and at others lyrical and lilting. With some up and coming playing mates, David Sneider is a trumpet ace to become acquainted with and enjoyed.

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 48 min.

Francesca Prihasti; Beneath The Sun

Here is your opportunity to discover a fresh, melodic, and invigorating set of diverse original works led by pianist Francesca Prihasti. The group, comprised of piano, bass, drums, guitar, and saxophones (not every player is on every selection) lays down some occasional complex but accessible lines, with Prihasti's a leadership role. At times thought provoking and at other times openly swinging, you might enjoy your morning coffee with Francesca and friends.

Apra Amcos; 2024; 35:05

The Flying Horse Big Band Meets George Garzone

If you're on the trail of exciting, challenging charts, here's your album. Champion Berklee sax faculty member George Garzone joins this stimulating big band on four of the seven selections. The most familiar on the menu are “Giant Steps”, “Reflections”, and “Impressions”. This is a roaring hard working big band that lets us know they're solidly in the game.

Flying Horse Records; 2025; appx. 37 min.

Lafayette Harris; All In Good Time

Right off the bat I love the title of this CD and I wonder why I've never seen it---ever. And of course it's fitting. The players on the date are obviously having a good time and they are keeping good time. Lafayette Harris, Jr. is the ultimate swinging piano maven with rhythm and delight and fluidity emanating from every note. The session is mostly a trio affair with Harris on piano, Kenny Davis on bass, and Jerome Jennings on drums. Houston Person and his dependable tenor sax are on board for one track and Jeremy Pelt and his flawless trumpet helps out on three choices. To set the mood for this musical meeting, the opener is the 'ancient' “I Want To Be Happy”. The only other well known selection is a classic dating back to Billie Holiday, “Good Morning Heartache”. The remaining tunes are primarily upbeat “feel good” examples of a group playing for the joy of making “in the pocket”, real deal jazz.

Savant; 2025; appx. 42 min.

Scott Silbert; Dream Dancing: Celebrating Zoot Sims At 100

Over the years of “devouring” scores of saxophone heroes, my absolute favorite swinging, joyful tenor genius has always been and will always be John Haley “Zoot” Sims. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when this treasure arrived in my hands. Scott Silbert must have shared my affection for Zoot because his sound and phrasing is entirely in the Zoot Sims arena. Yet somehow Silbert never sounds like he is purposely trying to “do” Zoot Sims. Along with a superb rhythm section Silbert delivers the good stuff on Zoot faves like “Dream Dancing”, It's That Old Devil Called Love”, “All Too Soon”, “Shadow Waltz”, and an exquisite Billy Strayhorn rarity with the unusual title “Ballad For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus Eaters”. Thank you, Scott Silbert, for honoring Zoot Sims, the guy who was always “at the ready” to remove his Selmer from its case and play his heart out.

Self produced; 2025; appx. 65 min.

Neil Gray; In The Streets

Could you ever call this accessible bop? Not to say that bop is ever inaccessible. Perish the thought. But drummer Neil Gray is leading his quintet through such a high brow jazz journey that they shouldn't take a back seat to anyone. The session consists of almost entirely Gray's compositions. And they simply flow freely with melodic sense, top of the mark solos, and jazz purity all the way through these proceedings. The one and only standard is Cole Porter's “Night And Day” which is performed by a singer doing her best to be hip. To end on a positive note, everything else here is right in the jazz jackpot. Go for it!

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 35 min.

James Suggs; For All We Know

For several years Arbors Records released loads of swing jazz specialties. All great stuff too. In the current times their numbers have dropped. So it's a pleasure to welcome a new Arbors product. This time it's trumpet titan James Suggs leading a swinging pack of pleasure through a list of tunes I'd suspect all will enjoy hearing. Those selections chosen here represent quite a broad range from “Grazing In The Grass” to “You've Got A Friend” in the pop arena, to “My Shining Hour” and the title song “For All We Know” from the standard book, to “St. James Infirmary” and “Moten Swing” from the blues era. Several less well known choices complete this super collection. Let's put it this way: if these musicians are ever investigated it will only be because they're having such a good time! Thanks, Arbors. Let's hear from you more often!

Arbors Records; 2025; appx. 68 min.

Brandon Sanders; Lasting Impression

Brandon Sanders; Lasting Impression

There are so many jazz artists being introduced to me these days that I learn of new talent on an ongoing basis. I love it! So, friends, make way for drummer Brandon Sanders and his associates, most of whom are new names to me. His consistently straight ahead approach features a rhythm section with vibes, lots of piano, a couple of hip vocals and, most importantly, a complete journey down the jazz road from the first note to the last. These impressive players “get it” and perform their assignments with authority and obvious attention to tradition. Stay in the groove, guys!

Savant; 2025; appx. 46 min.

Bijan Taghavi; Cactus Sessions

110 years ago Irving Berlin wrote a song called “I Love A Piano”. And for the record, so do I! Apparently pianist Bijan Taghavi shares that sentiment. On this solo piano performance of acclaimed and beloved songwriting, he offers us eight examples of gentle, pristine, pure piano pleasure. Taghavi is the player you'd hear in a black tie and linen restaurant while wishing that the customers would chill their chatter and listen to the exquisite melodies surrounding them. The artist begins and ends his recital with two Jobim gems, “Wave” and “Desafinado”. In between, his feathery touch lands between such winners as “I Should Care”, “I'll Remember April”, “Have You Met Miss Jones”, “East Of The Sun”, and two favorites from the jazz book, Horace Silver's “Peace” and Thelonious Monk's “Ask Me Now”. Taghavi's melody lines are efficient and respectful, and his improvisations are letter perfect. Solo piano played this way is something special and, in these times, rather unique. Piano lovers, don't let this one escape your attention.

Self produced; probably 2025; appx. 50 min.