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

Shawn Purcell – 180 (Origin)

Guitarist Shawn Purcell is back with a new album, and he put together about as good of an organ trio as you could possibly put together in 2022, with Jason Tiemann behind the drums and Pat Bianchi in the hot seat. In this largely original program, Purcell comes out swingin’ on “Cat and Mouse,” and romps through a pretty varied set of 11 tunes. He clearly feels at home on the bossa nova-esque grooves of “Fond Illusion” and “A Long Stroll” and his way with a ballad on “LTG” is something to behold. My favorite moment might very well be the last track on the album, “Search and Destroy,” where he plays with his Jazziest tone yet and goes for broke on five and a half minutes of bliss. This is a good time, indeed.

Charles Lloyd – Ocean Trio (Blue Note)

So Charles Lloyd has had a busy 2022, releasing three albums on Blue Note with three distinct trios. Ocean Trio features Lloyd, as always, on a handful of woodwind instruments, Gerald Clayton playing piano, and Anthony Wilson on the guitar. It features four long tracks, Charles Lloyd compositions one and all, and they are all quite interesting and contemplative in their own ways. “The Lonely One” feels like the Charles Lloyd that we’ve come to expect over the past three decades, with the feel of the spirits all around, over a fairly slow tempo that manages to build up quite a head of steam, even without speed and muscle to lead the way. “Hagar of the Inuits” and “Jaramillo Blues” are about as excitable as Ocean Trio is going to get, but that’s a good thing. Both songs work up to a nice, medium swing with enough room for all three of these masterful musicians to make their presence known.

Gregory Tardy – Sufficient Grace (WJ3)

Saxophonist Gregory Tardy is a monster of a talent deserving wider recognition. Hopefully, his new album, Sufficient Grace, will put him on that path. He’s certainly joined by an A-list team of players here, with Marcus Printup playing trumpet, Keith Brown on piano duties, Sean Conly playing bass and Willie Jones III behind the drums. Tardy penned all of the songs here, and we’re treated to some hard swingin’ music that recalls The Jazz Messengers and the best of the 60’s Blue Note roster. “The Omnipresent Cardiologist” gets things started right, with excellent solos from Printup and Tardy. “I Choose You” is a gorgeous duet feature for Gregory and Keith Brown. “For Deacon Rocky” has Roy Hargrove’s fingerprints all over it, and “A Tree and its Fruit” is a fantastic display of Tardy’s depth as a writer. I’ve long been a fan of Gregory Tardy, and I’m glad to get to play Sufficient Grace for you on DCB Jazz!