New Releases Spotlight: Week of April 25, 2016

This week in the Music Lounge, our music director Paul Abella takes a look at three new discs, including a fresh look at Ella Fitzgerald’s songbook from Jane Monheit, the latest from former-Chicagoan Chico Freeman, and New Zealand’s FIRST Hammond B3 organist!

Let’s start with Jane Monheit, who has a new disc where she collaborates with Nicholas Payton called The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald.  With Payton doing the arranging on about half the tracks here, this is an interesting album, full of textures and grooves that you might not expect from the average Ella tribute. "I’ve Got You Under My Skin" is eye opening, and "All Too Soon" and "Something’s Gotta Give" are wonderfully executed. 
 

Chico Freeman is back with his newest release Spoken Into Existence.  Chico plays here with an Austrian rhythm section that grooves nicely behind Chico’s tenor and soprano saxophones.   Their funky take on "Seven Steps to Heaven" is an interesting reimagining of the Miles Davis classic.  "India Blue" and "Nia’s Quest" are other highlights, and pianist Antonio Farao plays some tasty solos throughout.  Anyone who wants to hear a great, swinging jazz quartet is going to be pleased with this one.

 

And finally, New Zealand-born (but now NYC-based) vocalist/Hammond B3 organist Adrienne Fenemor’s Mo’ Puddin’ is a really curious disc from the standpoint that it features a lot of different aspects of different organ masters spread over its nine tracks.  Jimmy Smith’s be-bop swing?  The sanctified organ of Baby Face Willette?  Blues drenched grooves? Dr. Lonnie’s slow grooves?  It’s all here!  Mo’ Puddin’ grooves throughout, and the title track and "Minor Mixup" are some great highlights.  She’s joined by a couple of all-stars, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Willie Jones III.  This disc is a delight, and I have a feeling that you’re going to be hearing this disc A LOT.

I’ll be back next week with more jazz releases to talk about.  ‘Til then… keep your ears open!