New Releases Spotlight: Week of September 21, 2015

This week in The Music Lounge, music director Paul Abella reviews three new releases currently airing on WDCB!

When a new John Scofield album comes out, I’m usually like a kid on Christmas morning.  This time, doubly so.  Sco’s latest, Past Present (Impulse), sees the guitarist reunited with ¾ of his old quartet from the early ‘90s with drummer Bill Stewart and Joe Lovano on sax, while bassist Larry Grenadier fills in for the departed Dennis Irwin.  This album does sound of a piece with his previous releases What We Do, Time On My Hands and Meant To Be. "Slinky" and "Get Proud" are solid groovers, and "Chap Dance" is chock full of musical humor, cut very much of the same cloth as Sonny Rollins’ take on "I’m An Old Cowhand."  If you’re a Scofield fan, you’re gonna love this disc, and if you’re not, it might just make you a convert.

Pianist, composer, and former Chicagoan Ben Paterson has been keeping busy, touring with Bobby Broom, opening for Steely Dan, and recording some excellent music for his latest, For Once In My Life (Origin).  Pretty much every DJ here fell in love with his last disc, Essential Elements, with its clever choice of originals and other folks’ music.  For Once In My Life, with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer George Fludas, follows the same formula, and gets similarly great results.  Ray Bryant’s "Cubano Chant" is a great way to open the disc, and Ben’s take on Paul Simon’s "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is a groove-laden jam.  I really like his take on Horace Silver’s "Nutville."  I’m sure you’ll find a favorite or two on this one as well.

Pianist Orrin Evans has a new disc out called The Evolution of Oneself (Smoke Session).  If that sounds like the title of a sprawling album that covers a lot of ground, well, you’re right.  Evans tackles tributes to heroes, standards, tunes written by friends and a great take on Grover Washington, Jr.’s "A Secret Place."  Of course, when a great pianist is backed by a killer rhythm section (like Christian McBride on bass and Karriem Riggins on drums), sparks will fly.  And sparks most certainly fly here.  The version of "Autumn Leaves" on here will definitely help you wake up a bit in the morning.  Keep an ear out for this one.  You’re gonna dig it.

Next week in The Music Lounge, I’ll review the new discs from Chicagoan John Wojciechowski, Perez-Pattitucci-Blade, and maybe one more!  ‘Til then… keep your ears open!