George Cables is one of the world’s greatest jazz
pianists, one who helped define the sound of the instrument as we know it
today. He’s been making unostentatious music at the keyboard for decades. His
new release, “In Good Company,” though focusing on people Cables has known in
the past, is not a tribute album but rather a series of personal reminiscences
from the keyboard. On display on every track are those wonderful turns of
phrases, interesting voicings and that gorgeous tone which characterizes Cables’
playing. With musical compadres Essiet Essiet and Victor Lewis, Cables explores
the music of Ellington, Strayhorn, John Hicks, and offers a couple of his own
intensely interesting compositions.
Saxophonist
extraordinaire Walt Weiskopf shifts
into another gear and takes us along for the ride on the “Open Road.” As a tour
de force collection of hard hitting originals, Weiskopf’s second release for
Posi-Tone Records features the swinging rhythm section of pianist Peter Zak,
bassist Mike Karn and drummer Steve Fidyk. All of the musicians do some heavy
lifting behind the sensational melodicism and harmonic inventions of their
fearless leader.
Also this
week, it’s the final release for the late guitarist Jeff Golub, “The Vault,” featuring saxophonist Kirk Whalum; veteran
trumpet stand-outs Randy Brecker and
Bobby Shew are featured with the
Czech National Symphony Orchestra and St. Blaise’s Big Band, under the
direction of Vince Mendoza, on “Trumpet
Summit Prague: the Mendoza Arrangements Live”; and Eastern Iowa’s own Laranja, featuring guitarist Dan
Padley, reedman Ryan Smith, keyboardist Michael Jarvey, bassist Drew Morton and
drummer Justin Leduc, unveil “Thrills and Echoes.”
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