New Releases Spotlight: Week of October 19, 2015

This week in The Music Lounge, music director Paul Abella reviews an old disc that’s also a new disc, and two fantastic new releases that aren’t old at all!

First off, Erroll Garner’s Concert By the Sea might be 60 years old this year, but a new boxed set edition of pianist Garner’s classic album has been reissued by Columbia’s Legacy division that just about doubles the length of the album.  If there’s anything to be gleaned from the box set’s additional tracks, it’s that Garner was ON that night in Carmel (California) from start to finish.  Joining him were Eddie Calhoun on bass and Denzil Best on drums.  The version of "Caravan" that closes out the full concert makes this entire 3 CD set worth the price of admission, and a rip roarin’ version of the classic "Bernie’s Tune" is revelatory.  Add to that great (and previously unheard!) versions of "Lullaby of Birdland," "Night And Day," "The Nearness of You and Laura," alongside a third disc that presents Concert By the Sea as it was originally released, and you’ve got a great package on your hands. 

Tony Bennett and pianist Bill Charlap have released a new album, called The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.  With a little more than half this album being voice and piano duets, it’s hard to not make comparisons to Bennett’s classic albums with Bill Evans in the 70’s.  And if that’s what Bennett’s trying to evoke with this beautiful record, well, he’s done a fine job.  "I Won’t Dance" gets a new arrangement that recasts it as a waltz, and it works really nicely.  And if you didn’t know that "All The Things You Are" had a verse out front (I didn’t), you’re in for a bit of discovery, too.  All in all, if you’re a Tony Bennett fan, you’re going to love this.  If you’re a Bill Charlap fan, you’re gonna love this, too. 

Finally, how about something  from local trumpeter Chris Davis.  His latest, Eventide, is impressive, and is yet another disc that proves my theory that they’re putting something in the water in Chicago these days.  This lineup is nearly a who’s who of up and coming hot players from Chicago – like Rajiv Halim, who’s still here, and Willerm Delisfort, who has split for New York recently.  Eventide is a bit more straight ahead answer to the work of Marquis Hill or Corey Wilkes.  It’s still got that glossy sound that has been kind of the rage over the last couple of years, but the disc is in a much more swingin’ pocket than we’ve been hearing as of late from some of the younger folks in town.  "Hybrid" and "Actuation" are favorites for me, "But In the Moment" and "Late Night Drive" are both treats too.  I think you’re gonna find yourself with your fingers snappin’ to this one.  I hope you dig it!

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