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

Paul Marinaro – Mood Ellington (Origin Records)

Chicago based vocalist Paul Marinaro assembled an awe-inspiring crew for his latest two-disc set, a celebration of Duke Ellington called Mood Ellington. Besides the five piece horn section (Rich Moore, John Wojciechowski & Ted Hogarth on saxes, Eric Jacobson on trumpet and Raphael Crawford on trombone) and four piece rhythm section (Mike Allemana on guitar, Tom Vaitsas on piano, John Tate playing bass and Neil Hemphill behind the drums), there’s also a string section to further luxuriate the sound. With a setlist of 25 songs covering two CDs, Marinaro proves that there’s certainly no shortage of top tier Ellington & Strayhorn material to choose from, and with brilliant arrangements from heavyweights like John Clayton, Jim Gailloreto, Alan Broadbent, Tom Matta, Tom Garling and Bill Cunliffe, there are a multitude of different approaches taken to this music as well. Trying to single out highlights would take all afternoon, so I’ll just leave it at this: an album this stacked with talent, playing music this timeless is simply banger after banger, and I’d be shocked if you don’t end up hearing all of these songs at some point on DCB Jazz.

Lafayette Harris Jr. – All in Good Time (Savant Records)

Pianist Lafayette Harris Jr. has recently released a new album on Savant called All in Good Time. Joined by the solid rhythm section of Kenny Davis on bass and Jerome Jennings on drums, Harris is in good company for a hard swinging disc filled with short, hot blasts of burning grooves. Jeremy Pelt joins for three songs, and Houston Person sits in for one. “I Want to Be Happy” and “It’s Time” are both taken at whizbang tempos that still sound effortless. “For Maxwell” is the first of the features for trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, and it takes the foot off the gas a little, but the groove is just as at ease. “Good Morning Heartache,” “Time” and “I’m Glad We Had This Time Together” are the most mellow moments, and they show off just how versatile this group really is. Person and Pelt are both present on “Long Hot Summer Blues,” which sounds like its title: while everyone might have found a way to be comfortable, no one’s eager to be moving too quickly, content to enjoy the heat while it lasts. “Iko Iko” is almost always a guarantee that a band is having some fun, and this trio is no exception there. Heck, this whole album is the sound of a band having fun.

Michael Dease – Flow (Posi-Tone Records)

Trombonist Michael Dease has just released a hard swinging session for Posi-Tone Records called Flow. And Flow is what this quintet does across the eleven tracks heard on this new album. Joined by Sharel Cassity on the alto saxophone, Geoffrey Keezer on piano, Jared Beckstead-Craan on bass and Gary Kerkezou on drums, Dease has a fiery ensemble alongside him for his explorations. Things start off with a bang on Dease’s “ST in the House,” with a stop and start melody which leads to great solos from Dease, Cassity and Keezer. “Grand Seiko,” “Not the Norm” and “Entitlement,” also Dease compositions, are highlights on Flow. “The Financier” has a fun 1960’s movie soundtrack vibe, and Sharel Cassity’s “Love’s Lament” is a beautiful change of pace. Flow is a very nice album with a lot of moments well worth returning to.