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

Brother Jack McDuff – Ain’t No Sunshine: Live in Seattle (Reel to Real)

For these weekly features, I really try to avoid the newly found music from long deceased Jazz legends. But this one is just too good. Canadian Impresario Cory Weeds has really knocked one out of the park with his latest archival release, featuring organist “Brother” Jack McDuff on the B-3 from back in 1972 at The Gallery in Seattle. Ain’t No Sunshine: Live in Seattle finds McDuff in an exploratory mode, evoking fellow organist Larry Young in spirit, if not in conception. The band, filled out by guitarist Vinnie Corrao, drummer Ron Davis, and a three piece horn section. While no one knows who was playing the trumpet, we do know that Lee Johnson and Dave Young were the saxophonists on stage. This band cooks throughout, swinging, grooving and generally carrying on in a great way throughout two discs worth of material, ranging from McDuff’s originals like “Theme from Electric Surfboard” to (then) current R&B jams like Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” to “Three Blind Mice.” This set also serves as a great reminder of just how incredible McDuff’s left hand and right foot were, especially on the funk tunes with their syncopated basslines.

Jared Hall – Influences (Origin Records)

Seattle based trumpeter Jared Hall recently put out an album simply called Influences. Hall pieced together a nice band to help him flesh out these eight originals and one standard (Gigi Gryce’s “Minority”), with pianist Tal Cohen, bassist Michael Glynn and drummer John Bishop along for the ride. What is truly interesting is how much he captures the vibes of a few of these influences: “Song for Shaw” does vaguely remind me of a handful of powerful Woody Shaw penned barn-burners. “Professor B.L.” does sound like a few of Brian Lynch’s mainstream Jazz compositions from the 90’s and early 2000s. “Dear Roy” and “Dream Steps” both hint at the more lyrical sides of Roy Hargrove and Nicholas Payton, respectively. As a work of original art, Influences is a nice album. As a work in tribute to some of the best to have ever played modern Jazz trumpet, Influences is a nice album. As a hint of the possibilities of what’s to come? Influences has this Jazz fan excited for the future.

Stuart Mack – Vibrations (self-released)

While we’re talking about trumpet players, New York based Stuart Mack just released his debut album Vibrations. If Mack was planning on making a big splash in mainstream Jazz circles, he certainly made the right moves when assembling the group heard here, with pianist Manuel Valera, bassist Adi Meyerson and drummer Dan Pugach, and occasionally joining in on the action, Alejandro Aviles on the woodwinds. That rhythm section is no joke, ducking, diving and weaving around Mack’s and Aviles’ playing, while swinging hard, floating gently and getting funky. That fluidity gives Mack a sparring partner, a sounding board or a shoulder to cry on, depending on what’s needed. The net result is an album that has a bunch of layers to peel through and is a bunch of fun to listen to while getting through each one.