New Releases Spotlight: Week of October 26, 2015

This week in The Music Lounge, music director Paul Abella checks out three albums from three vastly different parts of the jazz universe!

Let’s kick off with vocalist Karrin Allyson’s latest, Many A New Day.  Recorded with pianist Kenny Barron and bassist John Patittucci, this is a sparse effort that really shows off the strengths of all of the players involved here.  The album is a collection of works by Rodgers and Hammerstein, given new life in a completely different setting than they were originally intended for. There are a few songs that turn out really well here, namely, "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" and "Out of My Dreams."  If you love Great American Songbook standards done in an intimate setting, this might just be your album of the year.

Oran Etkin’s got a really interesting new one called What’s New? Reimagining Benny Goodman.  Now, if you asked me, “What’s really interesting about a clarinetist doing a Benny Goodman tribute?” I’d fully understand.  But the format of the group itself is rather interesting (Etkin: woodwinds, Sullivan Fortner: piano, Steve Nelson: vibes, Matt Wilson: drums, notice the lack of bass), and the arrangements range from clever ("Sing, Sing, Sing") to completely shocking ("Dinah, Why Don’t You Do Right").  The album is engaging throughout, and if you like the idea of a Benny Goodman tribute with a little bit of grit, you’ll be looking forward to What’s New?.

And last, but certainly not least, we tread into new waters this week in the New Releases section of the Music Lounge – The New Mastersounds (a 4-piece fusion/funk group) are largely the fodder of Notes From the Jazz Underground or Jammin’ Jazz with Michelle Sammartino.  But as the new disc, Made for Pleasure, made its way around the offices at WDCB, it was clear that it deserved some play during the daylight hours, too.  It’s cut from the same cloth as classic Grant Green, Lou Donaldson or Dr. Lonnie Smith records of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.  Songs like "Tranquilo" and "Cigar Time" will make for nice jams while you’re sitting in the car, pluggin’ away at work or just hanging out listening to ‘DCB Jazz.

Next week, I’ll be back to check out more new music!  ‘Til then… keep your ears open!