Chihiro Yamanaka - Outside By The Swing (2005)

Chihiro Yamanaka’s Outside By The Swing (2005) is her fourth piano trio album and continues her annual series of releases since bursting on the scene with her 2001 debut Living Without Friday. While previous releases were on the Osaka boutique jazz label Atelier Sawano, this release marks her first in a long run with Verve Records. The album contains a baker's dozen of fun jazz tracks, some quite short but mostly in the four-to-six-minute range, plenty enough to showcase Yamanaka's piano filled with percussive fire and melodic creativity. With acrobatic thrills and exciting jazz runs, Yamanaka’s piano is definitely the featured instrument in the trio. Her improvisational runs and fluid technique is on display and easily grab the listener’s attention. Whether playing on up-tempo tracks like "Impulsive" or "2:30 Rag", or slower grooves such as "Angel Eyes" or "Teared Diary", Yamanaka soars in the spotlight on center stage, justifiably garnering the praise her attention to detail and facility receives. Perfectly in line with the direct reference in the album title, pure, simple, straightforward swinging jazz is honored here to a high degree. Along with fleet-fingered lines on Bud Powell's "Cleopatra’s Dream", the second track, "I Will Wait", is a great example of pure swing and scratches that itch perfectly. There is even a behind-the-scenes video for this song with scenes from the recording session. Track six, "Yagibushi - Revised Version" is another highlight, first heard on Yamanaka’s second album When October Goes (2002) and updated here in a refreshing and exciting arrangement. ~ Brian McCrory, jazzofjapan.com. 

Verve Records, UCCJ-2040, 2005
Recorded 13th-15th May, 2005 at Avatar Studios, New York 

Musicians:
Chihiro Yamanaka - Piano, Arranger
Robert Hurst - Bass
Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums

Tracks:
01. Outside By The Swing {Chihiro Yamanaka} (2:07)
02. I Will Wait {Chihiro Yamanaka} (5:14)
03. Impulsive {Eliane Elias} (4:35)
04. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands {Traditional} (4:06)
05. Teared Diary [Attends Ou Va-T'En] {Serge Gainsbourg} (6:05)
06. Yagibushi [Revised Version] {Traditional} (4:51)
07. Cleopatra's Dream {Bud Powell} (3:55)
08. Matsuribashi {Miyuki Nakajima} /
       Happy-Go-Lucky Local {Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington} (6:21)
09. 2:30 Rag {Chihiro Yamanaka} (2:32)
10. Living Without Friday {Chihiro Yamanaka} (6:19)
11. Angel Eyes {Earl K. Brent, Matt Dennis} (6:01)
12. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (1:56)
13. Candy {Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Mack David} (5:12) 

Total Time: 59:22 

Credits:
Producer - Chihiro Yamanaka
Executive-Producer - Tomohide Ishikawa, Hiroto Furuya
Recording & Mixing Engineer - James Farber
Assistant Engineer - Brian Montgomery, Peter Doris
Mastering Engineer - Greg Calbi [Sterling Sound]
Art Direction - Kitetsu Takamiya
Photography - Toru Koike

LINK

I Will Wait (from the recording session)

Bill Mobley - Moodscape (2007)

Mobley, well respected among musicians but sorely under-exposed, puts it all on the line in this terrific CD. Right from his entrance on Ray Noble's "The Touch of Your Lips," he invites you to be caressed by his beautiful, warm tone and subtle articulations. Pianist Mulgrew Miller, another artist deserving wider exposure - comps and stretches out with taste and command. "This Is The End Of A Beautiful Friendship" swings. Here Mobley's trumpet covers the standard's changes with a lyric, no-cliches feel and with gymnastic improvisational surprise. Bassist Robert Hurst's gentle push and drummer Eric Harland's tasteful, yet never overbearing cymbal work are both an absolute treat. On Jimmy Dorsey's beautiful "I'm Glad There Is You," Mobley's tone is simply beautiful, expressive and vocal. Miller and team interplay and support without stepping on toes. Mobley follows Lee Morgan in this trumpeter/composer tradition with the interesting offerings, "The Hymnotist" and "Time Riff." Mobley shows ability to work some terrific rhythmic variety in his solo work on both his composed charts. Mobley delivers Duke Ellington's "Prelude To A Kiss" simply beautifully, beautifully simple. "For Once In My Life," is the weak entry here. It's a bit too "club date-ish" when juxtaposed with the other terrific selections presented on the CD. Horserace brushes scoot you from the gate on "You and the Night and the Music." Mobley's Harmon-muted solo scampers crystal clean and is reminiscent of the speed and clarity of "speed clean harmonizing," Clark Terry. "Eastern Star," the final track, is a Mobley composition, dedicated to the late, great pianist James Williams. Miller's dream-like intro sets the stage for Mobley's dark, expressive, meditative melody. Harland's cymbal and drum work adds exotic flair. Overall, Mobley's work is highly impressive and intriguing here, an exciting trumpeter blipping and bebopping his way smack onto jazz radar screens. It's certainly about time - and talent. ~ Extract by Nicholas F Mondello, AAJ. 

Space Time Records, BG 2725, 2007
Recorded 9th, 10th January & 22nd August, 2007 at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY

Musicians:
Bill Mobley - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Arranger
Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Robert Hurst - Bass
Eric Harland - Drums 

Tracks:
1. The Touch Of Your Lips {Ray Noble} (6:13)
2. This Is The End Of A Beautiful Friendship {Gus Kahn, Jule Styne} (6:13)
3. I'm Glad There Is You {Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Mertz} (8:04)
4. The Hymnotist {Bill Mobley} (6:16)
5. Time Riff {Bill Mobley} (6:16)
6. Prelude To A Kiss {Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills} (5:58)
7. For Once In My Life {Ronald Miller, Orlando Murden} (6:45)
8. You And The Night And The Music {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (5:03)
9. Eastern Star {Bill Mobley} (4:21) 

Total Time: 55:09 

Credits:
Producer - Xavier Felgeyrolles, Blue Geodesics
Executive-Producer – Walter H. Squindo
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Joe Marciano
Photography - Michel Vasset 

I'm Glad There Is You

René Marie - Vertigo (2001)

Rene Marie's second CD for MaxJazz is, for the most part, a very enjoyable CD. This extremely gifted singer has a very appealing voice and is a talented arranger as well. Her playful arrangement of "Them There Eyes," with bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, is very refreshing, with some fine scat singing, too. Her unusually deliberate and rather sexy take of "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" adds pianist Mulgrew Miller and also has some fine scat singing, too. Her Latin chart for "I Only Have Eyes for You" proves catchy, with some tasty guitar playing from John Hart. "It's All Right With Me" is slowed to a snail's pace with Chris Potter's noodling bass clarinet and Hurst's brooding bass backing her powerful vocal. "Vertigo," another Marie original, is easily the most exciting piece on the session. The only occasion when she follows anything resembling an expected path is her lush treatment of the ballad "Detour Ahead" in a memorable duet with Miller. There are some weak spots. The original "Don't Look at Me Like That" is monotonous filler; while the Beatles' "Blackbird" is drastically rewritten with a tedious vamp that gives the song a somewhat ominous sound, but it grows tiresome quickly. The medley of "Dixie" (a song reviled by most African-Americans) and "Strange Fruit" (with its dramatic description of lynching) invites controversy. She sings "Dixie" a cappella with a possible touch of sarcasm, then the band is added for the shift into the piece that was first put on the map by Billie Holiday, introduced with almost a funeral march-like cadence. Somehow Rene Marie's lovely voice seems inappropriate for this song, as she doesn't reflect the anguish of its lyrics very consistently. Even with these reservations, this is a highly recommended CD. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

MaxJazz, MXJ 411, 2001
Recorded 22nd & 23rd February, 2001 at Avatar Studios, New York 

Musicians:
René Marie - Vocals, Arranger
Jeremy Pelt - Trumpet (#4,10)
Chris Potter - Bass Clarinet (#6), Tenor Saxophone (#7,9)
Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#2,3,7-10)
John Hart - Guitar (#4,5)
Robert Hurst - Bass (#1-7,9-11)
Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums (#1-4,7,9-11)
Jeffrey Haynes - Percussion (#4,5,7,11) 

Tracks:
01. Them There Eyes {Doris Tauber, Maceo Pinkard, William Tracey} (5:18)
02. Surrey With The Fringe On Top {Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers} (6:25)
03. I'd Rather Talk About You {René Marie} (4:54)
04. Don't Look At Me Like That {René Marie} (5:15)
05. I Only Have Eyes for You {Al Dubin, Harry Warren} (6:38)
06. It's All Right With Me {Cole Porter} (4:01)
07. Vertigo {René Marie} (7:57)
08. Detour Ahead {Herb Ellis, John Frigo, Lou Carter} (5:32)
09. Moonray {Arthur Quenzer, Artie Shaw, Nat Madison} (7:34)
10. Dixie/Strange Fruit (7:00)
11. Blackbird {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (6:22) 

Total Time: 66:56 

Credits:
Producer - Bruce Barth, Arranger
Executive Producer - MAXJAZZ
Engineer, Mixing & Mastering - Katsuhiko Naito
Mastering - Katsuhiko Naito
Photography - Jimmy & Dena Katz
Liner Notes - Mary Ellen Sullivan

Rick Margitza - This Is New (1991)

For his third release as a band leader, the Crescent City's former resident "pays homage to the tradition." The title song by George Gershwin tells all: this is a new approach to standard material. Backed by some heavy contemporary mainstream musicians, the album remains consistent throughout, with the rhythm section swinging hard under subtle improvisation. Although only 30-years-old, Margitza’s playing is mature and controlled, with a smooth and pure bright-edged tone. He expresses himself through note choice and in his own unique approach to phrasing, rather than through exuberant dynamics and spastic runs. Even his fat runs are effortless and in perfect time, and his out-of-range high notes sustain tone and pitch. Pianist Joey Calderazzo complements Margitza perfectly with his smooth style; with single-note phrases in his right hand, he also plays reservedly and can burn smoothly in perfect time. Drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts swings hard on the cymbals and ties it all together following the soloists and the other accompaniment intuitively, and Robert Hurst drives it all with a thumping, full-toned bass. Margitza's own "Beware of the Dog" is a minor modal piece with Tim Hagans on trumpet. Hagans' tone blends with Margitza’s on the haunting gypsyish melody. They explore the basic melodic outline of "On Green Dolphin Street," Margitza's straight tone echoing back to Miles Davis' muted trumpet sound. And on the ballad, "Everything Happens to Me," Margitza proves his bright tone can also serenade us. ~ Anthony Clark, Off Beat Magazine. 

Blue Note, CDP 7 97196 2, 1991
Recorded 27th-28th May, 1991 at Power Station, New York City 

Musicians:
Rick Margitza - Tenor Saxophone, Arranger
Joey Calderazzo - Piano (#1,2,4-7,9)
Robert Hurst - Acoustic Bass
Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums
Tim Hagans - Trumpet (#5 only) 

Tracks:
1. This Is New {Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weill} (5:18)
2. On Green Dolphin Street {Bronislaw Kaper, Ned Washington} (9:59)
3. Body And Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (5:37)
4. Just In Time {Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne} (6:29)
5. Beware Of The Dog {Rick Margitza} (8:49)
6. Invitation {Bronislaw Kaper, Paul Francis Webster} (5:30)
7. Everything Happens To Me {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (5:33)
8. When Will The Blues Leave? {Ornette Coleman} (7:07)
9. Gypsies {Rick Margitza} (6:36) 

Total Time: 61:02

Credits:
Producer - Matt Pierson
Recording Engineer - Jim Anderson
Assistant Engineer - Matthew "Boomer" LaMonica
Mastering Engineer - Bob Ludwig [Masterdisk]
Design - Mark Larson
Photography - Michael Williams
Art Direction - Cynthia Cochrane

Geri Allen - The Nurturer (1990)

A fine example of Geri Allen's advanced music (which holds on to tradition without merely recreating the past), this CD matches the talented pianist with veteran trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, altoist Kenny Garrett, bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Jeff Watts and percussionist Eli Fountain on group originals and two obscurities. Everyone is in fine form, and the Belgrave-Garrett combination works quite well. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

The music is highly interesting! Bold, complex, energetic, beautiful acoustic jazz, typical of its period. There's some effortless blending of different subdivisions of rhythm (Watts and Hurst have teamed up before...), some spirited almost-free blowing, some serious loose and groovy second-line blues romping, floating, all-encompassing jazz music. All the players deliver, and the band sound is great. Geri Allen rocks. Open your ears and dig in. ~ B.A.H., Amazon.com.

Blue Note, CDP 7 95139 2, 1991

Recorded 5^th & 6^th January, 1990 At Sound On Sound, New York, NY

Musicians:

Geri Allen - Piano

Marcus Belgrave - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Kenny Garrett - Alto & Straight-Alto Saxophones

Robert Hurst - Bass

Jeff Watts - Drums

Eli Fountain - Percussion

Tracks:

1. Night's Shadow {Eli Fountain} (8:26)

2. No. 3 {Lawrence Williams} (8:17)

3. It's Good To Be Home Again {Lawrence Williams, Arr. Gene Kee} (4:32)

4. Batista's Groove {Marcus Belgrave} (5:24)

5. Night Of Power [For My Daughter Laila] {Geri Allen} (2:19)

6. Our Gang {Robert Hurst} (5:38)

7. Silence And Song / The Nurturer {Geri Allen} (9:51)

8. Le Goo Wop {Geri Allen} (1:48)

9. Lullaby Of Isfahn {Kenny Garrett} (6:41)

Credits:

Producer - Geri Allen

Executive-Producer - Hitoshi Namekata

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Peter Denenberg

Mastering Engineer - Yoshio Okazaki (Capitol Jax)

Photography [Back] - Shigeru Uchiyama

Art Direction - Kaoru Taku

Cover Painting - Michael Kelly Williams