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

Ron Carter – Finding the Right Notes (In + Out Records)

Bassist Ron Carter is the most recorded bassist in history. He just had a documentary come out about him, and the soundtrack, Finding the Right Notes, is exemplary. Carter is teamed up with a handful of different ensembles, featuring the WDR Big Band, guitarists Russell Malone and Bill Frisell, pianists Renee Rosnes, Donald Vega and Jon Batiste, and two more legendary bassists in Stanley Clarke and Christian McBride. No matter the setting, Carter’s grooves are still fat and propulsive on his own compositions like “A Nice Song” or “Receipt, Please,” or on standards like “Bags’ Groove” and “My Man’s Gone Now.”

Houston Person – Reminiscing at Rudy’s (High Note)

Houston Person, having just turned 88 earlier this month, still shows no signs of slowing down, putting out another album filled with luxurious ballads and mid-tempo musings with a top-notch band surrounding him. Joined by Russell Malone’s guitar, Larry Fuller at the piano bench, Matthew Parrish playing bass and Lewis Nash on the drums, Reminiscing at Rudy’s is the audio equivalent of the perfect pair of jeans. “At Long Last Love,” “Please Send Me Someone To Love,” and “Moon River” are all solid, right down the middle affairs that are expertly engineered to make their listeners happy and keep them grooving.

Sinne Eeg & Thomas Fonnesbaek – Staying in Touch (Stunt)

Sinne Eeg made her way onto my radar back in 2015 on a duet album with bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek, and now those two are wrapping up 2022 with another offering, Staying in Touch. Eeg’s got a great voice, Fonnesbaek has grooves and invention for days, and there’s a lovely mix of classics like “Too Close for Comfort” and “Take Five” and small handful of originals, too. And make no mistake, both Fonnesbaek and Eeg are wonderful writers coming up with great melodies and cool lyrics.