Dan West; Presenting The Dan West Big Band

Big bands? Sure, they're still very much with us. They don't just play “Whispering” and “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” anymore. For which most of us, I dare say,challenging charts, and often solo work by selected band members. So, amigos, it's a different big band notion than “music for dancers” which once dominated the scene. A very skilled example of this concept is the Dan West Big Band. They provide us with seven excellent performances of this buoyant creativity. Tempo-wise, everything is covered with high marks for skill and enthusiasm. Solos are spot-on, never too much frosting on this cake. So I'd advise you to leap out of that easy chair and enjoy today's approach to the term “big band”. 

Wayside Records; 2025; terms not indicated.

Bob Reynolds; Eddie Told Me So

I'm always on board for a soulful tenor sax concentrating on our honorable Great American Songbook. Bob Reynolds is indeed such a player and he opens this session with “Harrisburg”, most likely a hometown reference. From then on, it's mostly a matter of Songbook treasures with the exception of the title tune, “Eddie Told Me So”, Reynolds' other original on the session. You'll find no argument from me over such evergreens as “When Your Lover Has Gone”, “Change Partners”, “Just Friends”, “Charade”, and “You Don't Know What Love Is”. Reynolds' associates, Andrew Renfroe on guitar, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Charles Ruggiero on drums, provide solid support throughout, and Reynolds is right on target with strength and great feeling for these examples of songs we've known and loved all these years!

Nosahu Records; 2025; appx. 44 min.

Doug MacDonald; Live In Beverly Hills

Guitarist Doug MacDonald has a good thing going. The guy puts out two, three, even four CD's per year, and every one is well worth hearing. MacDonald teams up here with Lou Shoch on bass and Billy Paul on drums. Shoch's vocal revives an old plum made somewhat famous by Joe Williams. It's called “Early In The Morning” and you're going to like it. With an exception here and there, the remainder of the session consists of snappy lines simply “made” for the guitar. The standards, also very well rendered, include “The Night Has A thousand Eyes”, “Yesterdays”, and “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads”. Yes, friends---Doug MacDonald keeps releasing the good stuff. It's tasty, consistent work, and we can get on that road, right?

Dmac Music; probably 2025; appx. 38 min.

Bijan Tagham; Cactus Sessions

OK, I'll admit it. I'm a ring-it-up, heartfelt piano guy. Always have been. Always will be. So when an album like this comes to my attention, sign me up. Bijan Tagham keeps it completely in the standards column on eight solo piano selections that earn an A+ for this listener. Perhaps you'll feel the same way when you hear Tagham's clarity, creativity, and a real sense of the joy derived from 88 keys. So, breathe it all in on “Wave”, “I Should Care”, “I'll Remember April”, “Peace”, “Have You Met Miss Jones”, “Ask Me Now”, “East Of The Sun”, and “Desafinado”. Ira Gershwin put it this way: “Who could ask for anything more!”

Self produced; probably 2025; appx. 50 min. 

Joe Magnarelli; Decidedly So

Many years, ago, I visited a jazz club here in my Portland hometown to hear the very gifted trumpet player, Joe Magnarelli. He was appearing with a super local rhythm section and I recall a most rewarding evening of “the good stuff”. The club itself was seemingly gone in the blink of an eye, but you know how it goes with jazz clubs! Anyway, what a delight to hear this formidable trumpet ace on a new recording. To be clear, the music is split about evenly between Joe's straight ahead, accessible originals and a few dignified old surprises. His colleagues on the disc include Steve Davis, trombone; Jeremy Manasia, piano; Clovis Nichols, bass; and Rodney Green, drums. In addition to the satisfying, ideally constructed Magnarelli creations, we are treated to some blasts from the past like “This Nearly Was Mine”, “When I Fall In Love”, and even the ancient “When I Grow Too Old To Dream”. Magnarelli retains the great chops I heard way back when on SE Belmont Street. He and his well chosen teammates make for perfect jazz listening throughout. Hey, Joe---come on back to Portland anytime!

Cellar Music Group; 2026; appx. 50 min.

Scott Routenberg; Live At Merrimans' Playhouse:

Oscar Peterson Tribute Oscar Peterson, my first piano hero, to this day remains a swinging genius who will forever become a “top of the mountain” legacy in the jazz world. So just how wonderful is it that pianist Scott Routenberg has given us the gift of this beautiful remembrance of this giant of the art of jazz. Along with trio mates Michael Santos, bass, and Cassius Goens III, drums (Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen if you will) the three shine on nine of Oscar's classics. It is interesting to note that a few tunes date towards the latter part of his life with titles like “City Lights” and “Cool Walk”. I was also thrilled with the presence of two pieces from Oscar's beloved Canadiana Suite, “Wheatland” and “March Past”. But it doesn't stop there. He had more than a passing flirtation with Bossa Nova, and so we are treated to “The Girl From Ipanema” and “Corcovado”. Decades ago Oscar's trio spun my head around with a dazzler called “Blues For Big Scotia”. It acts as a perfect closing theme on this session. And here it is again! Thank you, Scott and friends, for keeping alive the true genius of Montreal's gift to the world, Oscar Emmanuel Peterson.

Chroma Note Records; 2026; appx. 56 min.

ANSWERS:

     1.   Oh look At Me Now; also I'm Beginning To See The Light

1. Close Enough For Love
2. How About You
3. Once In A Lifetime
4. There Will Never Be Another You
5. Here's That Rainy Day
6. Little Girl Blue
7. Twisted
8. Fascinating Rhythm
9. 76 Trombones
10. Sunrise, Sunset
11. You Are There