New Music Releases: Jim Beard & Jon Herington; Jazzy Ladies Of Society Hill Records; Jan Harbeck

Jim Beard & Jon Herington - Chunks & Chairknobs

Steely Dan sidemen pianist Jim Beard and guitarist Jon Herington join forces on intimate duet album, 'Chunks and Chairknobs'. A unique piano-guitar project that organically blends their mutual interest in rock, pop, bossa, blues and jazz while also acknowledging their longstanding gig as sidemen in the game-changing band Steely Dan, this intimate encounter finds the two kindred spirits divvying up duties on eight tunes, easily alternating roles, comping supportively for each other while delivering melodic gems and brilliant solos along the way. From the jaunty title track, colored by Beard's New Orleans flavored barrelhouse piano to Herington's thoughtfully introspective "Double Blind" and Beard's soothing "Hand to Hand" to fresh interpretations of Bill Evans' "Loose Blues," the standard "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," the show tune "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and the popular Steely Dan anthem, "Gaucho," the two longtime collaborators put their own unique spin on the proceedings. A thoroughly engaging project, Chunks and Chairknobs is the result of what happens when two seasoned pros with longstanding, indelible chemistry get together in the studio to create. Magic ensues.

Jazzy Ladies Of Society Hill Records (Compilation)

Great work from the Society Hill label of Philly soul producer Butch Ingram – a force on the city's scene for many decades, and one of the few who are still turning out the kind of cool, classy sound that was Philly's big shift at the start of the 80s! Some of the artists here are older, and represent that later post-disco mode in Philly on labels like WMOT and Philadelphia International – and others are younger, but fit right into the groove – thanks to a unified Ingram style that keeps things warm and mellow throughout! Titles include "Give It Up" by Jean Carne, "Like A Lover" by Toni Richards, "I Love You" by Brandi Wells, "I'm So In Love With You" by Barbara Mason, "Good Morning Heartache" by Vicki Austin, "One Last Memory" by Vanessa Farley, "Waiting For My Lover" by Roz Ryan, "I Close My Eyes" by Carla Benson, "I Wish You Love" by Coretta Davis plus other tracks from Toni Richards, Marki Fields, Coretta Davis, Wardell Piper, and Bobbi Walker  ~ Dusty Groove

Jan Harbeck - Sound The Rhythm

Beautiful tenor from Jan Harbeck – a musician who's included four Ben Webster tunes on the album, and who definitely owes a lot to Ben in his tone! Harbeck's not a slavish Webster imitator – for one thing, his sense of rhythm and phrasing is very contemporary – yet he's got this warm, raspy charm that really hearkens back to the kind of special touch that Ben brought to the tenor, as he worked in a generation that really helped transform the way the instrument was used in jazz – to a point where it's now become one of the most soulful means of expression, especially in the hands of a player like Jan! The group features Henrik Gunde on piano, Eske Norrelykke on bass, and either Anders Holm or Morten Aero on drums – and one title features guest alto from Jan Zum Vohrde. Titles include the Harbeck originals "Lighter Shades", "Tangorrus Field", "Blues Crescendo", "Tail That Rhythm", and "Circles" – next to Webster tunes "Shorty Gull", "I'd Be There", "Poutin", and "Woke Up Clipped". ~ Dusty Groove