Steve Kaldestad with The Mike LeDonne Trio - Straight Up (2014)

The list of those jazz musicians past and present who play(ed) the tenor saxophone is long and varied. Those who were true innovators, and others who were great or near great, is not so long but nevertheless impressive. Trying to make the cut into either category is a daunting task. Steve Kalestad, who has a nice firm tone and easy manner will not fall into either, but that does not mean this album entitled Straight Up is not enjoyable or entertaining. 

Pianist Mike LeDonne was once described by Oscar Peterson as “one of the most promising and talented pianists of this era”. High praise indeed, but well deserved. His presence, along with Webber and Farnsworth, give an added luster to this session with his sympathetic support and exploratory solos. Fortunately, the band decided to forego the usual temptation of using only original material for this session and came up with a varied set list from both popular and jazz composers. 

The band opens with two tunes that fit into these categories starting with the Sammy Kahn/Julie Styne number “Beautiful Friendship” followed by Bobby Troup’s “Meaning Of The Blues”. The first starts off in a loping tempo with Kaldestad running through the melody then kicking in with a lengthy solo which shows he is an impressive improvisor. LeDonne then demonstrates his own solid credentials for several choruses before the band takes the tune out. Miles Davis included the Troup composition in his album Miles Ahead which gave the composition some cachet. Kaldestad and the band offer it in a bluesy frame which works well for all the principals. 

The Charlie Parker composition “Barbados” is well suited to the band’s strengths as it is simply a jumping off point to highlight their expressive versatility. Duke Ellington’s “Warm Valley” is a showcase for Kaldestad’s tenor wherein he captures some lovely turns of phrase and LeDonne gives full measure with some polished playing. The closing track is a minor blues entitled “Blues Straight Up” an original number from Kaldestad. Supported by some rock-solid drumming from Joe Farnsworth and Webber’s big toned bass, the band finds an earthiness and a swagger that is ear-catching. This is a cooly persuasive album from a dependable tenor saxophonist. ~ by John Sunier, Jazz CD Reviews. 

Cellar Live, CL120312, 2014
Recorded 3rd December, 2012 at Cory Weeds' Jazz Cellar, Vancouver, British Columbia 

Musicians:
Steve Kaldestad - Tenor Saxophone
Mike LeDonne - Piano
John Webber - Acoustic Bass
Joe Farnsworth - Drums

Tracks:
1. Beautiful Friendship {Jule Styne, Gus Kahn} (5:44)
2. Meaning Of The Blues {Bobby Troup} (5:41)
3. Let It Go {Stanley Turrentine} (5:47)
4. Barbados {Charlie Parker} (5:04)
5. Warm Valley {Duke Ellington} (5:04)
6. Sweet Siggi {Steve Kaldestad} (5:05)
7. Ligia {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (4:11)
8. Blues Straight Up {Steve Kaldestad} (8:20) 

Credits:
Producer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes - Steve Kaldestad
Executive Producer - Cory Weeds
Producer, Engineer, Mastering, Mixing - Dave Sikula
Graphic Design, Layout - Ian Hendrickson-Smith
Inside Photo - Jesse Cahill
Cover Photo - Steve Mynett 

Saori Yano - Best (2007) [CD + DVD]

Here we have a wonderful compilation drawn from Saori's albums pre-dating 2007. The CD is made up of thirteen choice tracks, and included is I &I, not released on her studio albums, but from an advertising promotion that brought her further fame. Incorporated in the fantastic package is a DVD that showcases video frontage of that commercial, as well as four other promotional videos. These clips give the Saori fan an insight as to the formidable company she was associated with throughout those classic early years. Looking back, she hung out with an assemblage of great jazz musicians during her recording tenure in New York City. The reader can easily see from personnel listed that she gave and was given great respect when performing. In this regard, it is important to note that she is not just a player, but also a fine composer and to this extent within this selection are five of her own tunes. Listeners can only marvel this brilliant jazz musician on the job at such an early age, enjoy! 

Savoy Records, COZY 263 + COZY 264, 2007 

Yano Saori (2003)
#5,10
02 (2004)
#2,4,11,13
Sakura Stamp (2005)
#1,3,12
Groovin' High (2006)
#6,8,9
DVD "ASIENCE" TV-CF
#7 

Musicians:
Saori Yano - Alto Saxophone
Nicholas Payton - Trumpet (#1,3,12)
Randy Brecker - Trumpet (#6,8,9)
Slide Hampton - Trombone (#6,8,9)
Eric Alexander - Tenor Saxophone (#1,3,4,12)
Jimmy Heath - Tenor Saxophone (#6,8,9)
James Moody - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#6,8,9)
Gary Smulyan - Baritone Saxophone (#6,8,9)
Masaaki Imaizumi - Piano (#5,6,8,9,10)
Harold Mabern - Piano (#2,4,11,13)
Mike LeDonne - Organ (#1,3,12)
Peter Bernstein - Guitar (#1-3,11-13)
Shin Kamimura - Bass (#5,10)
Nat Reeves - Bass (#2,4,11,13)
Ray Drummond - Bass (#6,8,9)
Masahiko Osaka - Drums (#5,10)
Joe Farnsworth - Drums (#1-4,11-13)
Adam Nussbaum - Drums (#6,8,9)

Tracks:
01. Donna Lee {Charlie Parker} (1:55)
02. Sand And Skirt {Saori Yano} (6:56)
03. Crazy He Calls Me {Bob Russell, Carl Sigmon} (7:56)
04. RIZLLA {Saori Yano} (5:32)
05. In A Sentimental Mood {Duke Ellington} (6:51)
06. Manteca {Dizzy Gillespie} (6:55)
07. I & I {Saori Yano} (3:58)
08. Greenism {Saori Yano} (4:44)
09. My Ideal {Newell Chase, Richard A. Whiting} (6:10)
10. How To Make A Pearl {Saori Yano} (4:14)
11. Lover Man {Roger Ram Ramirez, Jimmy Davis} (6:13)
12. Tico Tico {Zequinha Abreu} (5:31)
13. Open Mind {Takashi Matsunaga} (4:37) 

Total Time: 71:38 

DVD:
1. I & I {Saori Yano} (Movie)
2. Greenism {Saori Yano} (PV)
3. I Got Rhythm {George Gershwin} (PV)
4. RIZILLA {Saori Yano} (Movie)
5. How To Make A Pearl {Saori Yano} (PV) 

Crazy He Calls Me

Alvin Queen feat. Jesse Davis & Terell Stafford - Mighty Long Way (2009)

Alvin Queen's longtime European expatriate status has apparently ended, as this recording for the veteran drummer was done in New York City with younger musicians who admire his veteran presence and solid mainstream jazz credentials. Several cuts hearken back to modified Jimmy Smith style organ combos, while others have a feel stemming from Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and some get down and dirty with the original funk of those like Horace Silver. Queen himself is a solid drummer who does not employ bashing or histrionics à la Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, or Jeff Watts, while his musicality is second to none, and rivals peers like Joe Chambers. Organist Mike LeDonne shines brightly as the glue on this session, with guitarist Peter Bernstein right by his side, while trumpeter Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Jesse Davis prove a fine tandem that front the music in a faithful, straight-ahead, no-nonsense fashion. For those who are veteran listeners of jazz, you'll recognize a faithful version of Silver's "Cape Verdean Blues" with its wonderfully rich harmonies and churning rhythm, or Wayne Shorter's "United" with a similar Latin beat tacked onto a New Orleans feeling, not so much embellished as it is slightly shaded with LeDonne's organ. "I Got a Woman" is a typical, tried and true boogaloo groove that would make its author Ray Charles smile. Two obscure Oscar Peterson tunes are included, with "Sushi" a fast, insistent bop, and "Backyard Blues" a galloping romp/shuffle served under the tangy horns. Joe Pace, hardly known as a writer of jazz, contributed the title track in its happy, more contemporary modern organ combo format, while "Let Us Go into the House" certainly lives up to its singsongy, blues/gospel funk title. Davis brings to the repertoire the slow, cool, and basic "Blues on Q," as well as "Alba," a hip Blakey-type modern jazz swinger with Queen's drum fill-ins as pauses for thought and Bernstein's tasty guitar work. The obligatory Queen solo, "The Drum Thing," concludes the CD on a rumbling, tasteful note with help from Randy Weston's longtime conga player Neil Clarke. Were this to be a real working band (all of the participants are leaders in their own right,) jazz listeners would be shouting to the rafters for more of this excellent unit perhaps touring in support of this music. For now, this should do just fine as a quite memorable effort. ~ by Michael G. Nastos, AMG. 

Enja Records, ENJ-9522 2, 2009
Recorded 25th & 26th March, 2008 at Muzic Complex Studio, Dobbs Ferry, New York 

Musicians:
Alvin Queen - Drums
Terell Stafford - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jesse Davis - Alto Saxophone
Mike LeDonne - Organ [Hammond B-3]
Peter Bernstein - Guitar
Elias Bailey - Bass (#4,7)
Neil Clark - Congas, Percussion 

Tracks:
1. Mighty Long Way {Joe Pace} (5:23)
2. Sushi {Oscar Peterson} (7:48)
3. Cape Verdean Blues {Horace Silver} (6:25)
4. Blues On Q {Jesse Davis} (7:46)
5. I Got A Woman {Ray Charles} (7:41)
6. Backyard Blues {Oscar Peterson} (5:16)
7. Alba {Jesse Davis} (4:51)
8. Let Us Go Into The House {Joe Pace} (7:13)
9. Drum Thing {Alvin Queen} (8:46) 

Total Time: 61:09 

Credits:
Producer - Matthias Winckelmann
Audio Engineer - Vito Luizzi
Design - Franziska Erdle, David Winckelmann
Assistant Engineer - Alec Head
Cover Photo - Mark Wohlrab