JIMMY COBB – THE ORIGINAL MOB
Drummer Jimmy Cobb works here with his Original Mob – a
quartet that's been together for over 20 years, and which features a
well-matched lineup of Peter Bernstein on guitar, Brad Mehldau on piano, and
John Webber on bass! Bernstein's sharp, tight guitar lines are really
appreciated in a setting like this – as he plays with a vibe that recalls 60s
Grant Green at his best, and which soars strongly in a role that somehow seems
to encompass a bit of both rhythm and melody at once. The recording quality
really puts Bernstein's guitar up front – at a level that sometimes doesn't
happen on other records – and Mehldau, as always, has more then enough bold
energy of his own – especially when given rock-solid direction from John
Webber's bass. Titles include the Jimmy Cobb originals "Composition
101" and "Remembering You" – plus Bernstein's "Minor
Blues", Webber's "Lickety Split", and the titles "Sunday In
New York" and "Amsterdam After Dark". ~ Dusty Groove
James joins forces with the hot early '80s composer Rod Temperton, and the results are surprisingly enjoyable. The two composers contribute equally to SIGN OF THE TIMES, each bringing three songs to the finished product. Temperton mainly adds a disco flavor, while James' contributions mellow things out in his distinctive fashion. The opposing styles complement one another and create a well-balanced recording. James, who also produced TIMES, continues to hone his fine conducting skills here. On each track, he's backed by his usual orchestral counterpoint of strings, brass, and percussive instrumentation. Patti Austin, Val Simpson, and Luther Vandross contribute great background vocals, lending a nice R&B element to the appropriately titled album. TIMES is a splendid mixture of jazz fusion and '80s pop. All tracks have been digitally remastered. ~ CD Universe
James joins forces with the hot early '80s composer Rod Temperton, and the results are surprisingly enjoyable. The two composers contribute equally to SIGN OF THE TIMES, each bringing three songs to the finished product. Temperton mainly adds a disco flavor, while James' contributions mellow things out in his distinctive fashion. The opposing styles complement one another and create a well-balanced recording. James, who also produced TIMES, continues to hone his fine conducting skills here. On each track, he's backed by his usual orchestral counterpoint of strings, brass, and percussive instrumentation. Patti Austin, Val Simpson, and Luther Vandross contribute great background vocals, lending a nice R&B element to the appropriately titled album. TIMES is a splendid mixture of jazz fusion and '80s pop. All tracks have been digitally remastered. ~ CD Universe
CYRUS CHESTNUT – MIDNIGHT MELODIES
The warm sound of Cyrus Chestnut's piano balances
beautifully with the bass of Curtis Lundy and drums of Victor Lewis – very
familiar musical partners who really make the session sparkle! Chestnut's got a
great sense of melody throughout, but also finds a way to make the left side of
the keyboard pulsate strongly – resonating with Lundy's bass in a beautiful
way, and reminding us that Curtis is always a great player on a trio date like
this. There's a resonance to the bass and piano that really showcases the
strong sound of these Smoke Sessions albums – and titles include "To Be
Determined", "Giant Steps", "The Theme", "Naima's
Love Song", "Two Heartbeats", "Pocket Full Of Blues",
and "Hey It's Me You're Talkin To".
~ Dusty Groove
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