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

Eric Scott Reed – Out Late (Smoke Sessions)

Pianist Eric Scott Reed has pulled together an all-star crew for his latest album, Out Late. Joined by trumpeter Nicholas Payton, saxophonist Eric Alexander, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Out Late is a swinging, straight-ahead album that is a joy to listen to. Starting off with the mid-tempo groover “Glow,” the CD gets off to a smile-inducing start. “They” strips things down to a piano trio and bears the fingerprints of Cedar Walton both in its melody and in Reed’s playing. “Out Late” is a quirky tune with great solos from Peter Washington and Nicholas Payton. “The Weirdos” keeps the mellow, after midnight vibes going. The closer, “Delightful Daddy” turns up the heat and features some nice solo work from Eric Alexander. Out Late is a great listen at any time of day, even if you’re up early, instead of, well, you know…

Thomas Marriott – Screen Time (Imani Records)

Over the course of the past ten years or so, I’ve seen a few themed albums that focused on Jazz arrangements of themes for movies and TV shows. The latest of these is trumpeter Thomas Marriott’s Screen Time. Keyboardist Orrin Evans, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr make up the rest of the quartet featured here, and with a band that talented, these songs reach new heights. Marriott was smart to reach for some material that hadn’t been done yet in Jazz circles (save for “You Only Live Twice,” this is the first time I’ve seen these songs on a Jazz album), and there are some inspired choices to be heard here. Sesame Street’s “Pinball Number Count” has been ripe for a Jazz arrangement for literally decades. The biggest shock in hearing “Reading Rainbow” is that someone hadn’t done it sooner. Marriott himself contributes two barnburners to the festivities, with “Skip Intro” and “Screen Time.” And that previously mentioned version of “You Only Live Twice”? This might be one of my favorite takes on that one to date.

Jed Levy – Faces and Places (A Life in Music)

Tenor saxophonist Jed Levy’s latest album, Faces and Places, is a dedication to the musicians he’s played with and places he’s been throughout the course of his life. Helping to flesh out these moments in time is a crack band with Luis Perdomo playing piano, Peter Slavov on bass and Alvester Garrett behind the drum kit. Together, this quartet plays well together throughout the twelve tracks found here. Levy’s compositions are straight-ahead and nicely written pieces with a unique feel to them, somewhere between Jazz and Bossa Nova, and with such a capable band playing with him, that singular space makes for a unique sound that is heard on “Twiddle Twaddle,” “Partido Tenor,” “Danza de Berrios” and others. The lovely ballad “Coming to Terms” is quiet, contemplative and beautiful. Jazz fans will find a lot to like on Faces and Places, and I am sure that we’ll enjoy playing it for you, too.