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

Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus & Max Roach – Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings (Craft/Concord)

The Quintet’s Jazz at Massey Hall is one of those iconic Jazz albums that ought to be in every record collection. Beyond the music, the stories about getting the gig together, getting everyone to Canada, keeping everyone out of trouble, promoting the gig and recording it are the stuff of Jazz legend. If you don’t already have a copy, don’t fret. This is the version to get. Not only for the remaster, not only for the extra material (a piano trio of Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and Max Roach?!?!, a big ol’ unaccompanied Max Roach drum solo?!?!), but also for the stories told about the show and how it came to be. “Salt Peanuts,” “A Night in Tunisia,” and “Hot House” are all here, and all standouts, too. And those Bud Powell trio tracks that I talked about? Bud was still near the top of his game in 1953, so these versions of “Cherokee,” “Lullaby of Birdland” and “Hallelujah” are definitely well worth having in your collection. If you contribute before Friday to WDCB’s Fall Pledge Drive, Hot House can be yours for a $120 pledge. I encourage you to pick this up if you don’t already have some version of Jazz at Massey Hall. Actually, even if you do have it already, get this version, and pass on your old one to a worthy constituent.

Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra – Crescent City Jewels (Troubadour Jass)

Delfeayo Marsalis is back with a new album from his Uptown Jazz Orchestra. It’s a gem of a disc called Crescent City Jewels. Much like his last few efforts with the UJO, the trombone playing Marsalis turns this big band into a 16 piece brass band at times, tipping his cap to the Dirty Dozen on “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” and “Lil Liza Jane.” At other times, though, he can make this band swing as good as any band out there, like he does on “Basie Moods” or Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge.” To put it simply, Crescent City Jewels makes me smile. I can’t give a compliment much better than that.

Righteous Rooster – Fowl Play (Shifting Paradigm Records)

There’s a new organ trio in town, and they’re all they’re clucked up to be. Righteous Rooster takes the combined talents of Henry Dickoff (organ), Kenny Reichert (guitar) and Luke Sagadin (drums), and makes them into a solid soul-jazz combo. Fowl Play is proof that they’ve done their homework and studied the music of Big John Patton and Larry Young. “Groovin’ On Claremont” is exactly the funk that you’re looking for from an organ trio. “The End of the World” is a mellow jam that recalls the subtle moments of the Larry Goldings/Peter Bernstein/Bill Stewart unit. “Aravind” is even a little more subdued, still. “Late Night Reprise” hints at Larry Young’s earliest organ trio work. I hope we start seeing the name Righteous Rooster around town a little more. The world needs more swingin’ organ trios, and Fowl Play is proof that they’re still out there.