NEW RELEASES: SPIKE WILNER & THE SMALLS LIVE ALL STARS – A SET OF ORIGINALS; IAN HENDRICKSON SMITH – LIVE AT SMALLS VOL. 3; NICK HEMPTON – LIVE AT SMALLS

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