New Releases Spotlight: Week of August 25, 2014

This week in the Music Lounge, we’re looking at some fantastic new releases, including one that is ever so relevant…

Tom Harrell - Trip
This Saturday, Tom Harrell will be at the Chicago Jazz Festival with his group Colors of a Dream.  Most of that band appears on Tom’s latest, Trip, on High Note.  Something close to this version of Harrell’s group has been on his last few releases, and they’ve clearly gelled.  They have a band feel, the interaction is spectacular, and this music just feels effortless for these guys.  It’s really a great album, and you’ll be hearing quite a bit of it in the next few weeks.
 

Opus 5 - Progression
Opus 5 is a NYC based group that records for Criss Cross.  On first glance, this seems like a band that would be going down the path of trying to recreate the feel and sound of the mid-60’s on Blue Note Records.  The CD cover to their latest disc, Progression, screams “nostalgia!!!” from the top of its lungs and compositions certainly feel like they’re aiming for some of Freddie Hubbard’s or Jackie McLean’s magic.  But with a band claiming such heavyweights as Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Seamus Blake (tenor) and David Kikoski (piano), it becomes clear pretty quick that the 60’s are a touchstone, but not a place to reside.  This is some exciting modern jazz.  I think you’ll like it.

Freda Payne - Come Back to Me Love
You’d be forgiven if you only knew Freda Payne’s name because of her 1970 hit “Band of Gold.”  Another non-essential fact is that she’s Lester Bowie’s widow.  But what’s important here is that she’s actually a fantastic jazz singer, as her latest album, Come Back to Me Love, states loud and clear.  Alongside a gigantic big band (and sometimes symphonic orchestra) that boasts a bunch of big names (Pete Christlieb, Joe LaBarbara, Bill Cunliffe, Bob Sheppard, Andy Martin and Carl Saunders among them), she easily makes her way through a varied program of uptempo swingers, ballads and great version of the old blues classic "I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water."

Enjoy these (and other new goodies in the playlist!) and we’ll see you back next week here in the Music Lounge!