NEW RELEASES: TARDO HAMMER & PETER WASHINGTON – LIVE AT MEZZROW; JOHN MCCOWEN – SOLO CONTRA; STANLEY TURRENTINE – THE LOOK OF LOVE

TARDO HAMMER & PETER WASHINGTON – LIVE AT MEZZROW 

A set recorded live at the Mezzrow Jazz Club in New York, but one that's definitely in keeping with the other titles in the Smalls Live series – even if the setting is different! Pianist Tardo Hammer and bassist Peter Washington get wonderful space to stretch out here – taking familiar tunes on long, live readings – with sublime interplay between the bass and piano, and some wonderfully creative solos throughout! The format is simple, but there's magic throughout – and the whole setting is a great reminder of that special sort of spirit that comes from well-matched creative talents in jazz. Titles include "Bean & The Boys", "Milestones", "It Could Happen To You", "Star Eyes", "Isn't It A Pity", "Hackensack", and "These Foolish Things". ~ Dusty Groove

JOHN MCCOWEN – SOLO CONTRA

The "contra" here is a contrabass clarinet, not a stringed contrabass – yet John McCowen manages to play his instrument in a way that greatly resembles the larger wooden source of acoustic sound! The tones are very deep, and very slow-rising – used by McCowen in this wonderful way that makes us aware of textures we never would have expected from the instrument – none of the clearer reed elements you might normally hear, and instead these deep, rumbling elements that are as powerful as they are minimal! CD features three long tracks – "Fur Korv", "Chopper HD", and "Berths 1 to 3". ~ Dusty Groove

STANLEY TURRENTINE – THE LOOK OF LOVE

Stanley Turrentine's a hell of a soloist in a large ensemble setting – and there's possibly no better place to hear that talent at work than on this classic 60s date for Blue Note! The format's a bit different than other Turrentine records of the time – no small group romping, nor larger band soul jazz – and instead this laidback and classy mode that's handled with a heck of a lot of soul by arrangers Thad Jones and Duke Pearson – with this sophisticated vibe that almost points the way towards some of Stan's ballad work of the 70s. Strings are balanced nicely with jazz inflections from players who include Hank Jones, Roland Hanna, and Duke Pearson on piano – plus Kenny Burrell on guitar, Benny Powell on trombone, and both Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham on flugelhorn. Titles include "The Look Of Love", "Emily", "I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", "MacArthur Park", "Blues For Stan", "This Guy's In Love With You", and "Here There & Everywhere". (SHM-CD pressing!)  ~ Dusty Groove