JOSH LAWRENCE – COLOR THEORY
Maybe the first album we've ever seen from trumpeter Josh
Lawrence – and a set that will definitely have us looking out for more!
Lawrence composed almost every tune on the set, and works with a sense of color
that really lives up to the title – on lines that are sometimes nicely compressed
and subtle, and blown on flugelhorn – sometimes bold and vibrant, soaring out
in the company of an excellent group that includes Caleb Curtis on some
especially nice alto and flute! The keyboards shift throughout – as Orrin Evans
plays acoustic piano on five titles, and Adam Faulk handles Fender Rhodes on
seven more – creating a nice shift in color that furthers the spirit of the
tunes, driven by rhythm work from Madison Rast on bass and Anwar Marshall on
drums. Titles include "Black", "An Uptown Romance",
"Yellow", "Presence", "The Conceptualizer", and
"Green". ~ Dusty Groove
JON DAVIS – HAPPY JUICE
Top shelf jazz trio from pianist Jon Davis – an artist who
might look pretty laidback, sipping wine on the cover – but who serves up some
great original material as well as key takes on some classics! Working with
bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Mark Ferber on this one, Davis earnestly sets
out to pay homage to the 60s modern piano jazz genius of his five favorite
players – and also manages to really show some of his own best work – a really
impressive feat! The originals shine brightly – including "Happy
Juice", "Slant Six", "As We Know", "Bred On
Read" and "Mostly Minor" – and fit in seamlessly with the nods
to classics by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner and Keith
Jarrett – including "The Two Lonely People", "Tones For Joans
Bones", "Speak Like A Child", "Search For People" and
"Rainbow". Wonderful stuff! ~
Dusty Groove
WALT WEISKOPF – FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Walt Weiskopf is fast becoming one of our favorite
contemporary tenorists – a musician who's not just strong on his own
instrument, but able to place himself amidst a very fresh setting with each new
release! This set has Walt working with a top-shelf lineup of Positone
labelmates – including the great Behn Gillece on vibes, Peter Zak on piano,
Mike Karn on bass, and Steve Fidyk on drums – musicians who do a really great
job of soaring along with Weiskopf's sound, and finding all the right stops
along the way! The blend of vibes, piano, and tenor is wonderful – Gillece is
also one of our favorite contemporary players – and Walt's got this soulful
presence that offsets the other two instruments beautifully. Titles include
"Echoes Of The Quiet Past", "Backstage Blues",
"Petal", "Hot Dog Days", "Heads In The Clouds",
and "Double Date". ~ Dusty
Groove
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