What's New on WDCB... with Paul Abella

Ahmad Jamal – Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1964 (Jazz Detective)

The fact that Jim Wilkie did radio remotes from the Penthouse in Seattle throughout the 6 years that it was in business has proven to be a boon to Jazz fans over the years. We’ve seen excellent albums released with the music of The Three Sounds, Ernestine Anderson, and now, Ahmad Jamal. Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1964 captures pieces of three sets; one from June of 1963 with bassist Richard Evans and drummer Chuck Lampkin, and two from 1964 where bassist Jamil Nasser takes over for Evans. Throughout the course of these 10 songs, we get originals from Jamal and Davis, plus inventive takes on standards like “But Not for Me” and “Tangerine.”  If you’d like to get your own copy of Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1964 and help WDCB at the same time, please be an ‘Early Bird’ contributor to our Spring Pledge Drive by donating $120 (or above) by March 3rd, and we’ll send you this remarkable 2-CD Set as your Early Bird Thank You Gift.

Mimi Fox Organ Trio – One for Wes (Origin)

The Mimi Fox Organ Trio is made up of three fantastic and swinging musicians: drummer Lorca Hart, organist Brian Ho (who needs to record a lot more than he does), and, of course, guitarist Mimi Fox. On their new CD, One for Wes, we get a chance to hear them in a multitude of different settings, from burners like “Mr. White’s Blues” or “Pack of Lies” to the rarely heard combination of acoustic guitar and organ on “For Django, Avec Amor.” The textures these three players are able to coax out of a small group are impressive.

Caity Gyorgy – Featuring (La Reserve)

Vocalist and composer Caity Gyorgy (pronounced “George”) put out Featuring late in 2022 to little fanfare, so I’m a little late to the party, I must confess. But, now that I’m here, I’m glad I came. Featuring is a fascinating album, boasting some impressive guest artists (guitarist Jocelyn Gould and saxophonist Pat LaBarbara among them) and a nearly all original program of songs that feel and sound like they were lifted right out of the Great American Songbook. No easy feat! I’m partial to “ I Feel Foolish,” “Start Again” and the wordless scat workout, “It’s Pronounced George.”