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

Aaron Parks – By All Means!! (Blue Note)

If I were to name a new record By All Means!! and have the cover design evoke classic Blue Note albums like  Hank Mobley’s Dippin’ or Horace Parlan’s Happy Frame of Mind, it probably wouldn’t be this album. Mind you, By All Means!! is a lovely disc, but thoughts of 60’s Blue Note brings to mind a certain sound, and the title brings to mind a certain attitude. Instead, the listener is greeted by a warm sounding, down-to-mid-tempo collection of quite pretty songs played exceedingly well by saxophonist Ben Solomon, bassist Ben Street, the legendary drummer Billy Hart, and of course, pianist Aaron Parks. “Parks Lope” is a mid-tempo swinger with a strong solo from Ben Solomon that gets better with each listen. “For Maria Jose” features some gorgeous playing from Parks, and “Little River,” takes its time to build, and might very well be my favorite selection here. By All Means, check out Aaron Parks’ latest album. I promise you, you’ll be glad you did.

Dave Stryker – Blue Fire: The Van Gelder Session (Strikezone)

If I had a dollar for every legendary Jazz album that had been recorded in Rudy Van Gelder’s legendary studio, I could easily buy myself a really nice steak dinner with all of the appropriate fixins. As of late, people have been trekking back to Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey to record in that hallowed space, even in the absence of Rudy, in order to try to get even a little of the magic that coats those walls. And now, with Blue Fire, you can add Dave Stryker to the list of names that have done so. Sure enough, Blue Fire sounds excellent. Beyond the playing, the recording of the album is fantastic as well. Yes, the playing, featuring organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter along with Dave Stryker and his guitar, is befitting of that legendary room, filled with fire and intensity. Right out of the gate, on “Van Gelder’s Place” and “Blue Fire,” Stryker makes it clear that he’s taking no prisoners on this album. The Beatles classic “The Fool on the Hill” gets a Bossa Nova-esque groove, Charlie Parker’s “Dexterity” shows off the trio’s Be-Bop chops, and the funk payoff is Jared Gold’s “Back and Forth.” It does not disappoint. If you’re looking for pretty organ trio music, Stryker’s got you covered there, too, both with his own “Waiting for Ruby” and the Jerome Kern standard “The Folks Who Live on the Hill.” Stryker covers a lot of ground on Blue Fire, and he covers that ground quite well.

Alexa Tarantino – The Roar and the Whisper (Blue Engine Records)

Saxophonist Alexa Tarantino is building quite the impressive resume for herself, and her latest album, The Roar and the Whisper, will definitely be another feather in her cap. Joined by pianist Steven Feifke, bassist Philip Norris and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr, there are also guest appearances by Cecile McLorin Salvant and percussionist Keita Ogawa. “Inside Looking Out” gets the proceedings off to a rousing start, with invigorating solos from Tarantino, Feifke and Whitfield. As raucous as “Inside Looking Out” is, “The Roar and the Whisper” isn’t. It’s a slow burner that turns up the intensity here and there, (the roar) but then turns it back down (the whisper). Tarantino acquits herself nicely on Wayne Shorter’s “This is For Albert,” and the lilting pace of “Portrait of a Shadow” is quite charming, indeed. Cecile McLorin Salvant is at her ethereal best on her two features, “Moon Song” and “Tigress.” The bouncy “Back in Action” gets good and greasy in spots. I’ll be playing that one a lot.