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[MoreWatts]

MakingAScene!: “Catalyst is the new album for Steven Feifke, where he does all the heavy lifting as pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, bandleader, and producer. Feifke became the youngest ever Grammy winner for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album this year. Rather remarkably, his large ensemble only sees two returning from the previous effort, does have vocal tracks, and 21 musicians in the credits… The Grammy Award is proof enough of Feifke’s abundant skills. Catalyst will only further his growing reputation, especially as an arranger.”

This is his ~7th album since 2015 (5 big band), plus alotta session work, and work with saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. He is all of 32 years old.

The YouTube link for this album has 8 of the 10 tunes played live in the studio. A post about his Grammy winner album Generation Gap Big Band, is upthread, with 2 nice videos. A post about his 2021 big band album Kinetic is upthread, with a link to YouTube videos of that entire album played live in the studio.

Steven Feifke, Catalyst, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Ivan Melon Lewis is a Cuban pianist who has risen to prominence in Latin Jazz in the 2010s. His 2015 album Ayer Y Hoy earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Album. Info is sparse for a Grammy album, but he fronts a band here, and they do a fine job across a wide-range of moods. He won the Latin Grammy for his 2020 album Voyager, btw.

Ivan Melon Lewis, Ayer Y Hoy, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Another installment of Friday 50, albums from a half-century ago, or 1973.

Allmusic: “By the time saxophonist Steve Grossman released this debut, he and percussionist Don Alias had spent several years recording and touring with Miles Davis. They teamed with bassist Gene Perla (the three would later comprise the Stone Alliance power trio) and keyboardist Jan Hammer for seven tracks of Afro-Cuban tinged gutter funk and seething jazz.

Some Shapes to Come is an album you can stand up against almost any of the jazz fusion standouts of the '70s. Often overlooked, it is one of the '70s most unheralded jazz gems.”

Grossman released ~25 more albums thru 2000. He played on ~6 albums each for Miles Davis & Elvin Jones thru the mid-'70s. He played on Elvin Jones' Mr. Jones recommended upthread, as part of this 1973 retrospective.

Steve Grossman, Some Shapes to Come, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1973s (link upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman First Visit; Don Ellis Soaring; Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box; Hank Crawford Wildflower; Ron Carter All Blues; Return to Forever Light As A Feather & Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy; Flora Purim Butterfly Dreams.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Tuesday 25, albums from a quarter-century ago, 1998. Drummer Brian Blade released his debut, and recently his ~23rd album, so here’s the scoop on both.

Allmusic: “Brian Blade Fellowship is an impressive debut as a leader for one of the best young jazz drummers of the '90s. Producer Daniel Lanois doesn't follow jazz conventions, letting Blade run wild and blend genres… A debut that is uniquely daring and richly rewarding.”

The Fellowship: Melvin Butler/ts, ss; Myron Walden/as; Jeff Parker/gtr; John Cowherd/kb; Chris Thomas/bs.

Brian Blade, Brian Blade Fellowship, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

AllAboutJazz: “Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band have been cultivating a certain sound for over 25 years… Listening to Kings Highway one can feel this fellowship… The band invite the listener along to join their fellowship on a musical highway of life.”

The band is the same as the debut, with Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar since the 2nd album. Blade played on the Grammy nominated LongGone, recommended upthread, and on saxophonist Mark Turner's album recommended upthread. Rosenwinkel played on saxophonist Tobias Meinhart’s Berlin People, recommended upthread.

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, Kings Highway, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1998s (link upthread). Grammys: Instrumental, Herbie Hancock Gershwin’s World; Big Band, Count Basie Orch. Count Plays Duke; Latin, Arturo Sandoval Hot House. And: Joanne Brackeen Pink Elephant Magic; Don Sebesky I Remember Bill; Erik Truffaz The Dawn; Phil WoodsThe Rev And I; Charlie Mariano An American In Italy; Joshua Redman Timeless Tales…; David Sanchez Obesion; Patrick Williams Sinatraland; Eric Alexander Mode For Mabes; Maceo Parker Funk Overload; Yellowjackets Club Nocturne; Mark Turner.

 

[MoreWatts]

ABC.net.AU: “You'll get a bit of everything on the new album from Richard Pavlidis. The Melbourne-based saxophonist draws on the worlds of swing, funk and the blues across a series of original tunes on Iconography. His band showcases some of Australia's contemporary talents, including James Bowers on piano, Owen Downie on bass and Darryn Farrugia on the drums.”

This is Richard’s 5th album since 2019. The video is the 1st tune live. Solid sax quartet and a player with some Aussie cred.

Richard Pavlidis, Iconography, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Another Friday 50, albums from a half century ago, or 1973.

Allmusic: “Saxophonist/composer/arranger Archie Shepp supplemented these proceedings with gospel singers, big bands, quintets, sextets, and chamber orchestras… This is an urban record that showcases Shepp's ability, at this time in his career, to literally take on any project, combine as many sources as he was permitted by his financial resources, and come up with something compelling, provocative, and soulful… Shepp worked with many larger ensembles as a leader, but never did he achieve such a perfect balance as he did on The Cry of My People.”

Very little free jazz here, heavy gospel and R&B sounds, with vocals on most tunes. This was Shepp's ~28th album out of now ~95, since 1962. His latest is 2021s Let My People Go, with pianist Jason Moran.

Archie Shepp, The Cry Of My People, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1973s (link upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman First Visit; Don Ellis Soaring; Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box; Hank Crawford Wildflower; Ron Carter All Blues; Return to Forever Light As A Feather & Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy; Flora Purim Butterfly Dreams; Steve Grossman Some Shapes To Come.

 

[pablolie]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Tuesday 25, albums from 1998, or a quarter-century ago, continues.

Allmusic: “Driving While Black is saxophonist Bennie Maupin's first album as a leader in 20 years. Maupin is famous for his bass clarinet playing on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, and for being a member of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, teamed up with Patrick Gleeson on synthesizers. He’s produced an album which skillfully blends '70s fusion and '90s acid jazz… Maupin's saxophone playing is powerful and strong on improvisation.” A duet album where Gleeson effectively synthesizes a jazz band.

In a career since ~1966, Maupin has released only ~7 solo albums. This was his 4th, since '74. His latest is 2022s Symphonic Tone Poem for Brother Yusef, with percussionist Adam Rudolph.

Bennie Maupin, Driving While Black, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1998s (link upthread). Grammys: Instrumental, Herbie Hancock Gershwin’s World; Big Band, Count Basie Orch. Count Plays Duke; Latin, Arturo Sandoval Hot House. And: Joanne Brackeen Pink Elephant Magic; Don Sebesky I Remember Bill; Erik Truffaz The Dawn; Phil WoodsThe Rev And I; Charlie Mariano An American In Italy; Joshua Redman Timeless Tales…; David Sanchez Obesion; Patrick Williams Sinatraland; Eric Alexander Mode For Mabes; Maceo Parker Funk Overload; Yellowjackets Club Nocturne; Mark Turner; Brian Blade Fellowship.

 

[MoreWatts]

How about another fusion-acid-groove jazz album from 1998, or 25 years ago.

French saxophonist Julien Lourau’s Groove Gang did City Boom Boom, and info is sparse. Norbert Lucarain on vibes, Jules Isaac Bikoko Bi N' Jami on bass and Daniel Garcia-Bruno on drums are the main support. A DJ, several vocalists, some strings, acoupla horns, guitar and percussion fill out the nice sounds.

This was Lourau's 2nd of ~10 albums, through 2017. The video is a nice tune played live from 2021. See the post above for more albums from 1998.

Julien Lourau Groove Gang, City Boom Boom, full album: Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

The Diane Reeves reference above led me to Poncho Sanchez’s Afro-Cuban Fantasy, where Diane sings on 3 tunes. A great one from 1998, for a Tuesday triple play, of albums from a quarter-century ago.

Allmusic: “Our resident Latin jazz classicist comes up with a good concept -- evoking the memories of non-Latino Afro-Cuban music pioneers with tunes from Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers and Cal Tjader … and some often first-rate originals by Poncho and his pianist David Torres… Trumpeter/flugelhornist Sal Chacchiolo, trombonist Francisco Torres, and reedman Scott Martin have several nice solo moments -- as does, of course, Poncho the conguero.”

This was Poncho's ~25th out of now ~37 albums, from '79 to '17. See the 2 posts above for more albums from this 1998 retrospective.

Poncho Sanchez, Afro-Cuban Fantasy, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[pablolie]

 

[MoreWatts]

Allmusic: “The Omnichord Real Book is… bassist Meshell Ndegeocello's first album of primarily original material in nearly a decade, and the musician's Blue Note debut as a leader. Even though it was created by enough people to fill a starship, this is as intimate as any of Ndegeocello's previous albums. It's almost as varied as any of them in sound, naturally veering from sheer folk-soul to grimace-inducing funk to charging Afrobeat. Although almost every song is informed by a kind of heartache with prevailing feelings of disorientation, regret, and grief, Ndegeocello always owns it.”

This is Meshell’s ~13th album since 1993. She has a Grammy, and 11 more nominations. The video is a live performance of the tune she penned for this site - ASR!

Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Paris-move: “This is the second recording by trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator Dr. Javier Nero, titled Kemet: The Black Land, featuring the Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra. The album meditates on Kemet, the ancient Egyptian Black civilization, highly advanced… It's joyful, sun-soaked music, and Nero’s unique style is perfectly recognizable, with brass instruments being his preferred mode of expression. They are the ones that tell you the story of Kemet: The Black Land.”

A YT video shows him as a soloist in the ‘Disney College Band’ from 2012. He's come a long way. The video below is a live studio performance of an album tune.

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra, Kemet: The Black Land, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link