A few nights ago I woke up at 3:30am with a song in my head that I could not place. It finally came to me after an early morning walk on the beach. It was the pianist Hank Jones, double bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams’ version of John Coltrane’s Naima from The Great Jazz Trio at the Village Vanguard, released by legendary producer Yasohachi ‘88’ Itoh’s East Wind Records in 1978. The playing is absolutely wonderful, and Jones later remarked that ‘Carter and Williams would pick up in an instant anything I would do. It was like telepathy. That made it so thrilling and fun.’
There’s some exciting new music this week from London pianist Sarah Tandy with Hyperjazz, an early taster from her upcoming Delicious Capricious (self released, 16th October). It’s all Tandy playing keyboards with drummer Jamie Murray, while the album’s roster also features saxophonist Binker Golding, bassist Jihad Darwish and trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, as well as a number of guest performances. Can’t wait to hear more of this.
I’m really enjoying the New England Jazz Collaborative, with their Another Brighter Day from Tributaries (ACP Records, 17th July), an album of six new works for jazz orchestra. Another Bright Day was written by Jeremy Cohen and is a joyous and deeply swinging composition, featuring solos from guitarist Mitch Selib, soprano saxophonist Temidayo Balogun and drummer Lumanyano Mai.
Also new is New York singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan’s Hey Love! I Thought About You from Hey Love! (La Reserve, 19th June). I really like the way her self-written intro sets up the Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer standard. Her voice is wonderful and the band really swing with pianist Tardo Hammer, double bassist Peter Washington and unrelated drummer Kenny Washington. There are a number of fine up and coming jazz singers on the current scene, but like her label mate Vanisha Gould, Yeghiazaryan is very much the real thing.
There are three terrific tracks that share the word ‘blue’ in the title from saxophonists Gene Ammons, Jackie McLean and Ike Quebec. Ammons’ Blue Ammons is from Boss Tenor (Prestige, 1960), McLean’s Blue Rondo is from One Step Beyond (Blue Note, 1964), while Quebec’s Blue Samba is from Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Blue Note, 1962). They’ll chase away any blues you have, too.
We’re certainly hard boppin’ with pianist Sonny Clark’s classic Speak Low from Sonny’s Crib (Blue Note, 1958), and 68 years later, Vancouver based tenor saxophonist Ardeshir Pourkermati’s take on Hank Mobley’s East of the Village from Introducing Ardeshir (Cellar Music/La Reserve, 26th June). Hard bop may get older, but it doesn’t age.
With the annual Deal Music and Arts Festival opening this weekend, two Tomorrow’s Warriors groups are heading for the coast. On Tuesday, Warriors’ founder and double bassist Gary Crosby leads an all star quintet at The Astor, while on Thursday, young alto saxophonist Donovan Haffner leads a quartet at The Lighthouse. I chose Haffner’s excellent title track from last year’s self released Alleviate with guitarist Francisco Garcia De-Paredes, pianist Jay Verma, double bassist Harry Pearce and drummer Harry Ling.
There’s another dip into keyboard and synthesist Jason Miles’ superb 100 Miles for Miles Davis (Lightyear, 1st May), with Jeanne Moreau, featuring trumpeter Patches Stewart, tenor saxophonist Jay Rodriguez, bassist Adam Dorn and drummer Gene Lake. There’s a trumpet phrase in the verse that makes me think of Little Sunflower, not a bad thing at all. And Happy 75th Birthday, Jason!
I couldn’t resist another opportunity to play the Charles Owens Trio’s version of Jimi Hendrix’s If 6 Was 9 from 10 Years (La Reserve, 2021), that’s just had a fifth anniversary reboot. Tenor saxophonist Owens, bassist Andrew Randazzo and drummer DJ Harrison are certainly waving their freak flag high on this one.
And finally, there’s Tribe co-founder, saxophonist and flautist Wendell Harrison with Love Is Everywhere from Tribute to Pharaoh Sanders (ORG, 8th May). He’s leading the 11 piece Tribe ensemble recorded a year ago at the Detroit Institute of Arts during the Concert of Colours Festival. This was originally released on vinyl for Record Store Day, which I completely missed, but it’s now available on CD and digital. This tongue in cheek promo video made me chuckle (at least I hope it’s tongue in cheek!)
0:00
-2:00:32
Gene Ammons - Blue Ammons
Sonny Clark - Speak Low
Jason Miles - Jeanne Moreau
Sarah Tandy - Hyperjazz
Lucy Yeghiazaryan - Hey Love! I Thought About You
New England Jazz Collaborative - Another Brighter Day
Jasmine Myra - Some Rain Must Fall
Jackie McLean - Blue Rondo
Wendell Harrison & Tribe - Love Is Everywhere
The Charles Owens Trio - If 6 Was 9
The Great Jazz Trio - Naima
Ardeshir - East of the Village
Donovan Haffner - Alleviate
Charlie Haden’s Quartet West - Segment
Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Hi-Fly
Paul Desmond - Any Other Time
Ike Quebec - Blue Samba
Jazz on the Beach broadcasts every Wednesday evening from 10:00 PM to midnight (UK time), repeating on Monday morning from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM (UK time).
Blues Beach broadcasts every other Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (UK time).
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.