Roy Hargrove; Nothing Serious, Verve

This is Hargrove’s first jazz release in a long time.  He has produced several recordings with his RH Factor group which is a completely different sound.  I like the title of this work, given the context.  The music is upbeat, with a good dose of Latin influence and some very nice flugelhorn ballads.  Good stuff!

Victor Goines; New Adventures, Criss Cross Jazz

Goines is well known for his work in Wynton Marsalis’ septet and the LCJO.  This CD showcases him in a simple quartet and the results are fabulous.  Goines is truly versatile.  On this recording he plays tenor sax, soprano sax and clarinet.  His sound is distinct on each instrument.  His tenor is exquisitely full, in a Ben Webster sort of way.  His soprano sings and his clarinet has a haunting aura that conjures up all sorts of images.  The rhythm section is right on.  Kudos!

Kasper Villaume; Hands, Stunt Records

Villaume is a Danish pianist whom I’d never heard of prior to finding this CD.  I took a chance, only recognizing one name among the musicians; Ali Jackson the drummer.  But something about the CD felt right and so I bought it and was very pleased when I got home and gave it a listen.  This is contemporary jazz that gets just the right amount of tradition, edge, and swing in the balance.  It’s exciting, challenging, upbeat, and fresh.  A big thumbs up!

Frabrizio Bosso & Flavio Boltro Quintet; Trumpet Legacy, Sound Hills

Yet another CD by Bosso.  His stuff is really getting pushed in the Japanese market.  This CD was recorded just over 3 months ago and has already hit the racks here.  This time he has paired up with another Italian trumpeter, Flavio Boltro for a rare 2 trumpet quintet.  Bottom line is these guys are good!  They play a combination of originals and standards that span the time line from Wynton Marsalis’s “Delfeayo’s Dilemma” all the way back to Louis Armstrong’s “Big Butter and Eggman”.  Lively, sharp and swinging are 3 words that come to mind.

Frabrizio Bosso; Mare mosso, Wide Sound

Italian trumpeter, Frabrizio Bosso is making quite a name for himself here in Japan.  This is the second CD of his that I’ve picked up.  This time he has teamed up with an Italian rhythm section all of whom are new names to me.  Bosso is front and center on virtually every cut.  This music is hard to peg.  It isn’t particularly adventuresome or daring, but there is just enough of an edge to keep it from getting boring.  I’ve listened to it several times but am still waiting for something distinctive to jump out at me.  Not that I don’t enjoy it; I do.  It just doesn’t reach out and grab me.  Oh well.  Overall it is a fairly soft sound.  My one complaint about the recording is that the drums are mixed at an unnaturally low level, making it sound like they are somewhere in the next room. 

Kiyoshi Kitagawa; Prayer, Atelier Sawano

Kitagawa is a Japanese bassist who teams up with Kenny Barron on piano and Brian Blade on drums on this, their second CD on the well known Japanese private label, Atelier Sawano.  What makes this music unique is that Kitagawa eagerly assumes the central role.  Most CDs led by bass players feature them as composers, arrangers and musical directors with a lot of bass solos, but when it comes to the role their instrument plays in the music, it is the traditional role of the bass; i.e. providing rhythm and foundation somewhere in the background.  Kitagawa breaks the mold.  His instrument is at the very center of almost every cut.  He solos, he leads, he doesn’t play on the changes, he creates the changes.  As you might expect, his playing is truly melodic and fluid.  His sound is clear and very forward in the mix.  The end result is a distinct sound that sort of redefines how a trio can make music.  Nevertheless the music is easy to relate to, and makes you feel right at home.  The only caveat is that this CD is much more enjoyable on a home stereo system than on the portable digital player and earphones precisely because of the prominent role of the bass.  You don’t get the full effect unless you’re in an optimum listening situation with a system that can handle the broad dynamic range of the music.

Pete Zimmer Quintet; Common Man, Tippin’ Records

When I first saw this CD on the rack I didn’t recognize a single name.  Fortunately they had a copy open for listening and I was pleasantly surprised.  This is straight ahead jazz that isn’t particularly adventuresome, but at the same time far from monotonous.  I’m still trying to get a handle on it but nothing really jumps out about the music other than the fact that Zimmer penned all but one of the numbers.  It makes for good listening, ranging from energetic up beat to mellow ballads.  And I couldn’t help but note the Japanese pianist, Toru Dodo.

Hank Jones; Speak Low; The Great Jazz Trio, Eighty-Eights

This is a Japanese project that has the appearance of the all to frequent “super group” project inspired by some fantastically rich Japanese jazz producer who pays a phenomenal amount of money to get a group of well known musicians in the studio for a one time, often dismally uninspired session that gets hyped and fussed about in an aggressive marketing strategy only to yield next to nothing of musical significance.  Well, it may have that appearance, but the truth is that this is great music.  Hank Jones, pianist and brother of drummer Elvin and trumpeter Thad, is 80 years old and man does he sound fresh!  This collection of 10 standards is exquisite.  John Patitucci on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums make this latest incarnation of “The Great Jazz Trio”, which is in fact the creation of a Japanese producer, but one that while changing members over the years, has yielded several significant recordings and even performed live on occasion, definitely worth a listen.  The music of experience and maturity is a pleasing sound.

Saori Yano; Parker’s Mood: Live in New York, Savoy

This is Yano’s 4th CD and this time we are treated to an uptempo swinging date at the well known New York jazz club, Smoke.  She’s teamed up with Jimmy Cobb’s trio and they go all out from beginning to end.  Yano loves to play fast and play hard.  There’s no doubt she can blow up a storm but I’m looking forward to when she finally settles down and begins discovering a broader span of emotions in her playing.  But this is still very fun music to listen to.  She offers 7 standards and it’s almost surreal when you realize that Cobbs and pianist Richard Wyands are more than half a century older than Yano…  These guys played these standards when they were still originals!

Jaleel Shaw; Perspective, Fresh Sound New Talent

Shaw’s sound is in the same vein as Robert Glasper (who plays piano on this recording) and Marcus Strickland.  It is a distinctly new sound that I’ve tried to describe in other reviews.  Shaw’s music has less of the electric component thanks to Glasper sticking to piano only.  But there is a guitar, and that adds an almost ethereal quality to several cuts.  Shaw’s playing is definitely “on” and he shines as a composer as well, contributing 8 originals to this outing.  This one gets a strong “thumbs up”!