HAVE SOME FUN WITH GEORGE'S QUIZZES!

Here's yet another group of partial lyrics. Can you identify the song titles?

Hint: Every song begins with the word “I”.

1. how sublime it was
2. you thrill me like you do
3. wisdom and truth
4. but it just doesn't get me
5. and pushed the clouds away
6. you're on my mind
7. flying too high
8. Monday rolls around
9. a shadowy lane
10. a few kisses ago

GEORGE'S BRIEFS:

Tom Keenlyside; Third Street Wobble

This quintet is led by saxophonist Tom Keenlyside in a program of nine original compositions. Keenlyside is joined by trumpet, organ, guitar, and drums. All of the players are nicely featured in well conceived solos, and the nine works are sometimes visited by a funk or Latin presence. All of the writing provides us with distinctive melody lines, impressive improvisation, and a very real feeling of togetherness. These guys all work with joy and instinctive musicianship. Well worth a listen!

Artist Jazz Recordings; 2024; appx. 56 min.

Fernando Huergo Big Band; Relentless

Bassist and leader Fernando Huergo has assembled a stimulating and exciting big band on eleven selections that move and groove with high octane content. There is a definite Latin influence on these works. However, to my ear this is more of a big band outing than your usual Latin aggregation. The musicians are clearly giving it their all and the soloists kick up a powerful storm. This big band is heavy on enthusiasm and talent. There's much to be admired here.

Whaling City Sound; 2024; appx. 76 min.

Greg Skaff; Re-Up

It seems like every other kid in middle school wants to play the guitar. If more of them ended up like Greg Skaff, the world would be better off. Skaff is pure and simply a profound jazz guitarist with exquisite tone, endless ideas, and he is simply a master of his craft. Completing his trio are Ugonna Okegwo, bass, and Jonathan Barber, drums. The three work wonderfully on eight energetic Skaff originals and two long admired jazz classics, Monk's “Green Chimneys” and Duke's rarely heard beauty, “Fleurette Africane”. Greg Skaff and his trio don't need to put extra frosting on the cake. On the contrary, they do everything just right.

Soulmation Records; probably 2024; appx. 40 min.

Bruna Black and John Finbury; Vã Revelação 

Very appealing sounds abound here with the authentically Brazilian vocals of Bruna Black. All of the music is by Grammy nominee John Finbury, a new name to me, but certainly a more than competent composer in this genre. Ms. Black handles the assignment with delightful ease, and her accompaniment puts guitar and piano in the spotlight. High marks are here.

Produced by Emilio D. Miler and John Finbury; 2024; appx. 33 min.

April Varner; April

Singer April Varner managed to come up with no less than eleven tunes with the word April in the title. Some are long time standards and others are her quite well written originals. She's a fine singer with a strong sense of jazz hipness. Her accompaniment is divided between groups led by guitar or piano. By the way, among the familiar songs are April In Paris, Lost April, and of course, I'll Remember April. There is a sweetness and sincerity in Varner's voice and I'd like to hear more from her.

Cellar Music; 2024; appx. 49 min.

Bruno Hubert; Fire Waltz

This has been an outstanding time period for new acquaintances at the piano. Here's yet another one in Bruno Hubert. With his very tightly knit colleagues---James Meger on bass and Joe Poole on drums---Hubert presents a menu of nine selections, mostly from bright lights like Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, and others. But what really stands out in Hubert's playing is the depth and creativity of his improvisational inspiration. He seems to always be offering new but totally accessible turns and detours on the likes of “Con Alma”, “Good Bye Pork Pie Hat”, and “Edda”, to name a few. But Hubert also lends his creative perspective to standards like “I Fall In Love Too Easily”, “Golden Earrings”, “I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face”, and “You And The Night And The Music”. Bruno Hubert is yet another shining light among today's roster of masterful, real deal jazz pianists. This album, with all its intensity and artistry, makes a startling and terrific debut for the Bruno Hubert Trio.

Cellar Music; 2024; appx. 61 min.

Louis Hayes; Artform Revisited

Perfect album title if you give it just a little bit of thought. The art form is of course, bebop. Just look at the list of composers: Dizzy, Bird, John Lewis, Billy Strayhorn, and one surprise, Bobby Troup. In case you didn't know it, Louis Hayes is 87 years old. As is sometimes said, “he was there”, having worked with Oscar, Dexter, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Burrell, and many more. Now here he is in the company of veritable youngsters Abraham Burton, tenor sax; Steve Nelson, vibes; David Hazeltine, piano; Dezron Douglas, bass. The tunes, mostly bop classics, include “Tour De Force”, “Milestones”, “My Little Suede Shoes”, “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing”, “Dewey Square”, and more. From the pop world of long ago, there's “You're Looking At Me” and even the Sinatra hit, “Young At Heart”. Needless to say, all the players are at the top of their game, playing music that we all hold so fondly in our hearts and memories. Louis Hayes, thank you for staying in the game.

Savant; 2024; appx. 51 min.

Ken Peplowski; Live At Mezzrow

How nice it is to see Ken Peplowski back making great music after dealing with concerning health challenges. Peplowski is of course one of the very few remaining monster clarinet players in the jazz world. He also plays a mean tenor sax, making him a legit double threat. On this most welcome session he's joined by an all star lineup of Ted Rosenthal, piano; Martin Wind, bass; and Willie Jones III, drums. The group's choices are all first class and include “Beautiful Love”, “All The Things You Are”, “The Shadow Of Your Smile”, and even a T. Monk surprise, “Bright Mississippi”. But it doesn't stop there. A rarity by Hank Jones called “Vignette”, a Duke Ellington bright spot, “Who Knows”, and “Here's To Life”, a gorgeous ballad that I remember from the late Shirley Horn, are also album plums. Ken P. is back, and as great as ever. How nice for real music lovers!

Cellar Music Group; 2024; appx. 60 min.

Eric Alexander & Mike Ledonne; Together

This incredible duo session marks something of a departure for the gifted tenor player Eric Alexander. First, to my knowledge it is his initial release in a duo setting. And in Mike Ledonne, he works with a pianist filled with flowing ideas and passion. Second, Alexander does not play tenor exclusively here. The opener will grab your attention immediately. It's called “For Mabes” and it's a demanding, challenging roller coaster ride. The twosome then settle into three standards: “Autumn In New York”, “Round Midnight”, and “I'm In The Mood For Love”. Each has something that gives it a new look. It might be tempo, jet-like improvisation, or simply the ideal communication between the two artists. The album continues with tenderness in Ledonne's solo on his ballad “Lost But Not Forgotten”, and that is followed by some high flying originals. All of them illustrate the amazing oneness of these two players. For instance, “Mutation” seemed to be loosely based on Sonny Rollins' “Airegin”. The last of the standards is “The Nearness Of You” beautifully interpreted by the two. It should be clearly stated here that this is high artistry and an amazing meeting of two masters of their craft. You'll be glued to your chair by this one!

Cellar Music Group; 2024; appx. 47 min.

Tardo Hammer; Right Now!

Quite a few years ago I was fortunate enough to be able to hire Tardo Hammer to play a gorgeous Yamaha at Classic Pianos here in Portland. Imagine my surprise when he called me recently to tell me he was going to send his new CD my way. I wouldn't describe Tardo as a minimalist; it's just that he plays ALL the right notes---in the very heart of bebop. On this new release he works to perfection with veterans Lee Hudson on bass and Steve Williams on drums. With shades of heroes like Bud, Monk, Barry Harris, and Elmo Hope, Hammer's exquisite touch and super jazz feeling are outstanding on many tunes you know well. Among them are “I Didn't Know What Time It Was”, “They Didn't Believe Me”, “My Ship”, and the rarely heard “I See Your Face Before Me”. From the jazz Real Book, how about “Dear Old Stockhom” and “Epistrophy”. To complete a stunning, straight ahead effort, there's “Lonely Town”, a Tardo original called “Moonlight”, and the surprise of the session, the Johnny Mercer hit from way back, “I'm An Old Cowhand”! This CD is something of a throwback in that it's a gimmick free, real deal jazz trio playing with excitement, charm, and cohesiveness. I might just conclude by saying that If I Had A Hammer, it would be Tardo!

Jazz Bird Records; 2024; appx. 70 min.