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

Tom Tallitsch: Message (self-produced)

Saxophonist Tom Tallitsch has been on the scene for a while, putting out a string of albums for Posi-Tone records, which were all fantastic. For 2021, he’s done the heavy lifting himself on Message, with a nice group of players joining him: Mike Kennedy on guitar, Neil Podgurski on piano, Matthew Parrish on bass and Dan Monaghan playing drums. This might be Tallitsch’s most straight-ahead album that I’ve heard from him in some time. The all-original program swings hard, with some great soloing and plenty of insistent grooves. I especially like "Zipline", an uptempo tune with plenty of fire, and "Fearless", which melds a mellower tempo with some knotty passages that keep the ear interested.

Yoko Miwa: Songs of Joy (Ubuntu)

Pianist Yoko Miwa put together a really interesting program with her 2021 album, Songs of Joy. Split evenly between her originals and music from Thelonious Monk, Billy Preston, Richie Havens and Led Zeppelin, this is a powerful disc. At first glance, it may look like a standard issue piano trio, but Miwa, Will Slater (bass) and Scott Goulding (drums) are playing with drive and purpose. Originals like "Largo Desolato" will make you chuckle as you try to count along, and their version of "Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You". Oooo, there’s a lot to like.

Greg Murphy: Cool Water (Whaling City Sound)

Chicago ex-pat Greg Murphy has a new, wide-ranging album out called Cool Water. From straight ahead jazz to '70s funk, Cool Water has a little something for everyone. Alongside bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, these three make a lot of music. When these three groove acoustically, the sparks fly! "Chim Chim Cher-ee", "Theme For Ronnie" and "Cuttin’ Trane’s Corners" (the final two being Murphy originals) are just three of the highlights you’ll hear as we start jamming to this one on DCB Jazz!