ANSWERS TO GEORGE'S QUIZ:

1.  Anything Goes

2.  I Get A Kick Out Of You

3.  Just One Of Those Things

4.  All Of You

5.  From This Moment On

6.  I Love Paris

7.  Easy To Love

8.  It's All Right With Me

9.  You're The Top

10. I've Got You Under My Skin

HAVE SOME FUN WITH GEORGE'S QUIZZES:

We're supplying you with a list of partial lyrics to very well known American Songbook classics.How many actual titles can you identify? Hit melodies and lyrics ALL by Cole Porter:

1.   only use four letter words

2.   mere alcohol

3.   we'll meet now and then

4.   east, west, north, and the south of you

5.   no more blues songs

6.   every moment of the year

7.   it does seem a shame

8.   your face is lovely

9.   you're Mickey Mouse

10. use your mentality

GEORGE'S BRIEFS:

Janet Evra; Meet Me In Paris

As the title suggests, this is a charming recital with an accent on French material. There's a happy musicality here featuring singer and bassist Janet Evra. Both the familiar and the rather obscure are on board. A very hip little ensemble works seamlessly with the leader. This is a definite detour in the jazz world. But it works ever so intimately. 

Plum Jazz Records; 2023; times not indicated.

Joe Wittman; Trio Works

Jazz guitar fans need to check this one out! Joe Wittman leads a guitar-bass-drums trio on six of his own compositions plus two standards, “Sweet Lorraine” and Mel Torme's “Born To Be Blue”. Unlike the bevy of funk guitar things out there, this is simply a solid jazz group jammin' for fun.

Sol Records; 2023; appx. 45 min.

Constantine Alexander; Firetet

From the opening notes of this session, you'll understand why it's called Firetet. For the record, this is actually a quintet led by the trumpet and flugelhorn of Constantine Alexander. On seven originals, Alexander and friends present a contemporary hard bop that is challenging, swinging and authentic. Tempos vary, solos are demanding and vigorous, and all these new names are exuberant and fully involved as modern real deal players.

Self-produced; 2023; appx. 52 min.

Thomas Linger; Out In It

Speaking of new names, here's Thomas Linger. His quartet includes some seasoned players who know when to turn on the heat AND when to display a more modest but always swinging approach. Linger himself always sounds impressively right in the center of the jazz tradition. Joined by Peter Bernstein on guitar; Vasushi Nakamura, bass; and Joe Farnsworth, drums, this lyrical quartet tells the truth on nine fresh, invigorating originals and one classic standard: I always love hearing Billy Strayhorn's masterpiece, “Lush Life”. To put it simply, this is yet another jazz triumph for Cellar Music.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 56 min.

Antoine Drye; Retreat To Beauty

It's a rare occasion when any jazz musician gets an opportunity to record with strings. But thankfully, that was the case with the haunting and beautiful trumpet of Antoine Drye and a luxurious pairing of supporting jazz players and subtle strings, all arranged to perfection. As the album title tells us, beauty is the object here and it's in full flower from note one. Among many highlights are these: 1) the slowest and most heartfelt reading of Billy Strayhorn's “Isfahan” I've ever heard; 2) a charming revisit to the Louis Armstrong hit “When It's Sleepy Time Down South”; 3) Jimmy Rowles now classic “The Peacocks”; 4) Monk's stunning ballad “Reflections”; 5) “Goodbye”, a ballad from decades ago from orchestra leader Gordon Jenkins; 6) Drye's own creation, “Friend”, named for a musical colleague; 7) a near tear jerker in “Send In The Clowns”; and 8) Laura, a tune with special meaning for me. On every one of these and a half dozen more, Antoine Drye and his numerous friends recall a time when recordings like this were somewhat frequent, if not plentiful. Antoine Drye is a trumpet master to keep an eye on. He could make a dozen albums like this and I'd welcome each and every one.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 52 min.

John Lang; Earotica

New York bassist John Lang has put together a scintillating ensemble larger than a “combo” but smaller than a big band. It is in fact comprised of trumpet, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, and of course a rhythm section including leader and bassist John Lang. All twelve tunes are originals and swing with resonating authority. And being that this group is as complete as it is, all players get generous opportunity to strut their stuff, solo-wise. There is a very “urban” contemporary feeling at work here. Now and then things get a tad more electric than my straight ahead veins can handle. Aside from that, this big-small band puts it all out there. I guess the term is muscular because these guys certainly work out!

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 73 min.

Brad Turner; The Magnificent

And just who is the driving force behind the consistent quality of Cellar Music? It's their founder and yet another superb tenor sax man, Cory Weeds. I mention that because Weeds appears on this session which is actually under the leadership of Brad Turner on both piano and trumpet! Remaining players, all highly admired, are Peter Bernstein, guitar; Neil Swainson, bass; and Quincy Davis, drums. There are nine Turner originals here and they are bright, lilting, fresh examples of guys who are really good at the game! These are all musicians with lengthy resumes, and they undoubtedly reject the flash and formula in favor of the history, musicianship, and dedication served up here in every note.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 61 min.