Erik Jekabson - Crescent Boulevard (2010)

Trumpeter Erik Jekabson's 2010 effort Crescent Boulevard is a thoughtful, cerebral post-bop affair that is a perfect balance between melodic artistry and probing, knotty jazz improvisation. Similar to Jekabson's previous recordings including his stellar 2004 debut, Intersection, Crescent Boulevard finds Jekabson delivering his burnished, warm trumpet tone and fluid improvisational lines that bring to mind such influences as Kenny Dorham, Blue Mitchell, and Miles Davis. Moving from the catchy and melodic bossa nova album opener to the muted and atmospheric title track ballad, all of the songs here are Jekabson originals save for his sprightly take on Harold Arlen's "My Shining Hour," which he impressively performs with only drums behind him. Backing Jekabson here are guitarist Michael Abraham, bassist John Wiitala, and drummer Smith Dobson as well as pianist Dan Zemelman, saxophonist Dayna Stephens, vibraphonist Tommy Kesecker, and percussionist John Santos. ~ by Matt Collar, AMG. 

Jekab's Music, 001, 2010
Recorded 8th July, 2009 at Bay Studios, Berkeley, California 

Musicians:
Erik Jekabson - Trumpet
Mike Abraham - Guitar
John Wiitala - Bass
Smith Dobson - Drums
Special Guests:
Dayna Stephens - Tenor Saxophone
Dan Zemelman - Piano
Tommy Kesecker - Vibraphone
John Santos - Percussions

Tracks:
1. Parisian Jaunt {Erik Jekabson} (5:19)
2. Five More Minutes {Erik Jekabson} (6:44)
3. El Don {Erik Jekabson} (6:30)
4. Crescent Boulevard {Erik Jekabson} (7:15)
5. The Silver Fox {Erik Jekabson} (7:21)
6. Fallen Angel {Erik Jekabson} (5:15)
7. Sweet Face {Erik Jekabson} (4:48)
8. Eichhörnchen {Erik Jekabson} (6:58)
9. My Shining Hour {Harold Arlen} (4:02) 

Total Time: 54:14 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Erik Jekabson
Engineer, Mixing - Dan Feiszli
Mastering - Michael Perez-Cisneros
Assistant Graphic Design - Jesse Easley
Cover Art, Graphic Design - Mark Jekabson
Photo Courtesy - Kent Young 

My Shining Hour

Dayna Stephens - Peace (2014)

Stephens met Mehldau at a performance in New York’s Smalls Jazz Club, where Mehldau remarked on how much he enjoyed Stephens’s baritone playing. It felt right asking Mehldau to be a part of this project, as his ballad playing is especially remarkable. The idea to create a recording highlighting Stephens’s ballad and baritone sax playing had been formed quite a while ago, by Stephens and producer Matt Pierson. Together Stephens and Pierson selected tunes and personnel, recorded in The Clubhouse recording studio in Rhinebeck, New York. The musicians selected to fill out the ensemble: guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland, performing with Mehldau for his first time. The recording begins with “Peace,” a straightforward composition with attractive harmonic movement that highlights the ensemble’s immediate chemistry. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" has deep sentimental meanings for the Bay area bred Stephens. "Zingaro" is nuanced and effective, especially in the blend between guitar and piano. “The Good Life," which is stripped down to a moving trio with Lage and Grenadier. “The Duke” feels leisurely, the dynamic interplay between the ensemble members keeps a spark in this longtime favorite. Two Ennio Morricone compositions follow: "Brothers", lovingly played on soprano, followed by an atmospheric "Deborah's Theme" on tenor. "Oblivion” is a loose take on the tango with a special solo turn from the highly gifted Lage and Stephens on soprano. “Body And Soul" is adapted to baritone, deepened only by Grenadier's deft bass playing in duo. “Two for the Road," is a true serenade on tenor and includes some intriguing musical choices from all. "Moonglow" closes the program in a dancing duet between the low voices of baritone and bass. Dayna Stephens's Peace is a recording that has just the right balance of talent, taste and patience. The compositions are perfectly suited for the musicians to really get to the heart of their meanings. The musicians are evocative and daring, yet bring an enormous amount of restraint to their playing, showing maturity that only decades of serious ballad play can garner. ~ Extract from daynastephens.bandcamp.com. 

Sunnyside Communications Inc., SSC 1399, 2014
Recorded at The Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, New York
Additional Recording at Strange Weather, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Dayna Stephens - Tenor, Soprano & Baritone Saxophones
Brad Mehldau - Piano
Julian Lage - Guitar
Larry Grenadier - Bass
Eric Harland - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Peace {Horace Silver} (6:34)
02. I Left My Heart In San Francisco {George Cory, Douglas Cross} (4:59)
03. Zingaro {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (7:48)
04. The Good Life {Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon} (6:31)
05. The Duke {Dave Brubeck} (3:58)
06. Brothers {Ennio Morricone} (1:43)
07. Deborah's Theme {Ennio Morricone} (4:00)
08. Oblivion {Astor Piazzolla} (4:59)
09. Body And Soul {Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton} (6:32)
10. Two For The Road {Henry Mancini} (6:09)
11. Moonglow {Will Hudson, Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange} (3:38) 

Total Length: 56:57 

Credits:
Producer - Matt Pierson
Executive Producer - Randi Norman
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Chris Allen
Engineer [Assistant] - Mike Dwyer
Additional Recording Engineer - Daniel Schlett
Mastering Engineer - Mark Wilder
Photography & Graphic Design - Christopher Drukker 

Peace