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[Frank Sinbeans]

The Skeptical Audiophile sez...

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz: "The subtitle of Blues to be There, the Detroit-based Planet D Nonet's latest album, is 'A Salute to Duke Ellington.' Ellington wrote 13 of the album's persuasive numbers, Billy Strayhorn 5... Ellington is represented almost exclusively by lesser-known compositions, most of which are no less colorful and charming than his more familiar themes.

Planet D roars from the start, and emulates the Duke's memorable dialect and essence on essays ranging from burners to blues.

While this isn't Ellington, it comes about as close as one could imagine to replicating his music. Kudos to the impressive Planet D Nonet for nurturing the blueprint."

The video is a nice performance of the album lead-off tune. Please enjoy some nice Duke interpretations.

Planet D Nonet, Blues To Be There: A Salute To Duke Ellington, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

RIP

 

[MoreWatts]

Perusal of Grammy lists led me to this 2006 Best Latin Jazz Instrumental Album nominee, percussionist Bobby Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion on ... And Sammy Walked In. Allmusic called it essentially hard bop, aka Latinized Jazz Messengers, which is a good thing.

The video is an excellent performance from 2011. Please enjoy.

Bobby Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion, ... And Sammy Walked In, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Angsty]

R.I.P. Ahmad Jamal… passed today at 92

 

[MoreWatts]

Tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III's albums In Common, 2 and III, have been recommended several times upthread. He's now on Blue Note, and has a new album, Return To Casual, with Kendrick Scott on drums, and some previous collaborators. This is his ~10th album as a leader, from 2006.

From Glide Magazine: "His compositional... emphasis is on textures, harmonics, shifting moods, and interplay. In the course of doing so, he displaces patterns, delays melodies, or sequences them in order to inspire creative improvisational bursts from his unit. He’ll inject humor and some surprising quotes in places too."

The video is the official album vid. Please enjoy a nice new Blue Note release.

Walter Smith III, Return To Casual, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[fredoamigo]

Happy to have had the chance to see him in concert before he left us...RIP Maestro !!!!

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From JazzMusicArchives: "Stunning big band music from Finnish composer Kerkko Koskinen,... Agatha 2 is an album that continues the saga from Agatha, from 2007. Koskinen composes highly dynamic, emotive and expressive music for the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Linda Fredriksson (tenor sax) shines as the soloist, who understands Koskinen's vision in its entire potential. This is cinematic, moody music for the large canvas."

The video is recent, but not of this album, displays the Gil Evans vibe, with a definite Euro groove. Please enjoy some modern big band.

Kerkko Koskinen & the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Agatha 2, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Temple University (Philadelphia, USA) has these guys on their music faculty: trumpeter Terell Stafford, tenor saxophonist Tim Warfield, alto saxophonist Dick Oatts, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Mike Boone, and drummer Justin Faulkner. They call themselves the Philly Jazz Collective, as a Stafford project. From Glide Magazine: "Barth arranged four lengthy compositions from four of the city’s most important jazz artists – Jimmy Heath, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, and Lee Morgan. In so doing, the group tries to convey the essence of the Philly sound, steeped with hints of soul and hints of rhythm, and blues. The album takes its name from Tyner’s 1976 Milestone debut, the string-drenched Fly with the Wind."

An EP, only 4 tunes, 36 minutes. A nice faculty concert, recorded March 23. The video is just a nice example of Terell in a quartet.

Terell Stafford, Fly With The Wind, full album: Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Trumpeter Terell Stafford also worked on this recent release. From AllAboutJazz: "Philadelphia saxophonist Sam Taylor unleashes an exciting bop-filled package of contemporary jazz covers, ... laying down sturdy new treatments of oft-recorded and ageless classics. Taylor says, 'Music is an act of giving. Let Go,' [hence the album title.]

The quintet assembled for this recording is an all-star cast with the inclusion of trumpeter Terell Stafford, drummer Willie Jones III along with bassist Neal Miner and pianist Jeb Patton, making this group pf players, one of the finest quintets in the business and their play here is definite proof." This is Sam's 3rd album as leader since 2017.

The video is Taylor's trio, and YT has longer, live album performances. Please enjoy s'more jazz with a Philadelphia connection.

Sam Taylor, Let Go, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

'Coulda swore someone here recommended this, but couldn't find it upthread, so...

Evidently considered kinda obscure, back in the day when you had to search for physical copies. From 1987 on Denon PCM Digital.

From Allmusic: "Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson welcomes trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith to his quintet set. Hubbard was in prime form during this period, and the repertoire... provides inspiration for some excellent hard bop-oriented solos. Worth searching for."

Found it. Mulgrew does his usual nice work. Please enjoy some fine Freddie and Benny.

Benny Golson & Freddie Hubbard, Stardust, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.