NATE WOOLEY SEXTET - SIT IN THE THRONE OF FRIENDSHIP
Nate Wooley's got a great group here – a sextet who can
easily move between more arranged moments and freer ones – at a level that
recalls some of the best recent underground work coming from Chicago! Matt Moran
makes a very strong appearance on the set on vibes – ringing out with tones and
chromes that really deepen the album strongly, and give it a sense of humanity,
too – providing a bridge between the bolder horn moments and some of the more
subtle rhythmic inflections. In addition to Wooley on trumpet and Moran on
vibes, the set also features Josh Sinton on bass clarinet and baritone, Eivind
Opsvik on bass, Dan Peck on tuba, and Harris Eisentadt on drums. Titles include
"Plow", "The Berries", "Old Man On The Farm", "Make Your Friend Feel Loved", and
"Executive Suites". ~ Dusty Groove
MULATU - SKETCHES OF ETHIOPIA
A brilliant new recording from Mulatu – one that shows that
the Ethiopian legend hasn't lost a bit of his edge in recent years! The sound
here is still very strong and bold – that crucial blending of African roots and
jazzy inflections that's made Mulatu one of the most influential musicians of
the latter few decades of the 20th Century – an artist who's only finally
getting his due in recent years, as a range of different artists help to
transform his sound. Yet there's still nothing better than Mulatu himself – as
you'll hear on this wonderful set of tracks played with the Step Ahead band,
with the leader on vibes, piano, and keyboards. There's a bit of vocals on a few
tracks – sung by Tesfaye – but most of the record is focused on the instrumental
passages, which are filled with lots of wonderful exotic inflections. Titles
include "Gmuz", "Assosa Derache", "Azmari", "Gamo", "Hager Fiker", and "Surma". ~ Dusty Groove
CYRUS CHESTNUT - SOUL BROTHER COOL
A really hard-hitting set from pianist Cyrus Chestnut –
wrapped up here in a cover that's an homage to Max Roach in the 60s, and served
up with a groove that definitely evokes the best jazz of that decade too! The
group's a very sharp quartet – with Chestnut handling piano, plus Freddie
Hendrix on trumpet, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Willie Jones II on drums – and
also acting here as producer, given that the set's issued on his own label! The
team of Douglas and Jones is mighty deft – and really adds a bristle to the
rhythms right from the start – providing a perfect place for Hendrix to show off
his tight skills on trumpet, while Chestnut mixes things up with lyrical moments
and some harder punch on his piano. All tunes are originals by Cyrus, which
furthers the fresh feeling of the record – and titles include "The Raven",
"Stripes", "Soul Brother Cool", "Piscean Thought", "Spicey Honey", and "Dawn Of
The Sunset". ~ Dusty Groove
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