SPIKE WILNER
& THE SMALLS LIVE ALL STARS – A SET OF ORIGINALS
We've always
loved Spike Wilner as a pianist, but this set's also a great reminder that he's
a hell of a composer too – as all the tracks, save one, are originals by Wilner
– and played by a strong quintet of all-stars from the Smalls club that he
manages himself! The album's a brilliant testament to the kind of open,
expressive, yet still-swinging jazz that Wilner's helped foster strongly over
the past decade or so – and the group shines from work by Ryan Kisor on
trumpet, Joel Frahm on tenor, Tyler Mitchell on bass, and Anthony Pinciotti on
drums – musicians who definitely have a warm spirit that ties them together
strongly. Some of these songs are really wonderful – tunes that are already
tremendous, before the solos – which make them shine even more. Titles include
"Iceberg Slim","Upasaka", "Trick Baby",
"10th Street Rag", "La Tendresse", "Sasquatch",
and "Stitch In Time". ~ Dusty Groove
IAN
HENDRICKSON SMITH – LIVE AT SMALLS VOL. 3
The third
Smalls Live appearance by saxophonist Ian Hendrickson Smith – and maybe the
best so far! Ian's a player that you might know from his work in The Dap-Tones
and Roots – but he's also a hell of a jazz musician, too – and does a fantastic
job here in a quintet that features Ryan Kisor on trumpet, Spike Wilner on
piano, Adam Cote on bass, and Lawrence Leathers on drums! The notes are a bit
spare, but it sounds like Ian's playing alto on many tracks – blowing in this
crisp, soulful style that takes us back to Lou Donaldson's early 60s years on
Blue Note – but with a more open, extended vibe – thanks to the beautiful
Smalls Live presentation! Kisor and Wilner are both great, too – musicians who
really seem to hit their best strides in a concert setting – and titles include
a great reading of "Book's Bossa" – plus "This Love Of Mine",
"For All We Know", "I'm A Fool To Want You", and
"Willow Weep For Me". ~ Dusty Groove
NICK HEMPTON
– LIVE AT SMALLS
A fantastic
setting for the tenor talents of Nick Hempton – a set that was supposedly
recorded on a day when he'd set fire to his compositions, and lost his piano
player – leaving the remaining trio to perform here out of a set of familiar
changes and loosely-structured grooves! The result is wonderful – with Nick's
crispy horn right out front, with support from George Delancy on bass and Dan
Aran on drums – all making great use of the long-spun format of the Smalls Live
sessions, which seem to be a perfect setting for such a recording! Hempton's
grabbing our ears here like never before – with a rawness to his tone, while
still swinging strongly – and in best live improvisation tradition, the changes
from the familiar tunes are really transformed – which makes the whole record
way more than you'd expect from the titles. Tracks include "Droppin A
Franklin", "Poor Butterfly", "Not The Sort Of Jazz That
Stewart Lee Likes", "Whistlin Blues", "Blues To You
Rudy", and "When I Grow Too Old To Dream". ~ Dusty Groove
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