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

Steve Wilson – Enduring Sonance (Smoke Sessions Records)

Alto saxophonist Steve Wilson recently released his latest album, Enduring Sonance, on Smoke Sessions Records. Boasting an ensemble of Joe Locke on vibes, Renee Rosnes on piano, Jay Anderson on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums, this is a band with immense chops, impeccable taste and an impressive sense of groove. A full half of this album is given over to ballads and slow jams like the classic “Pieces of Dreams,”  Milton Nascimento’s “Francisco,” and Gino Vanelli’s “The Surest Things Can Change.” Those are beautiful moments, and they give extra heft to the loping swing of “How Long?” or the lead-off track, “Quiet Girl.” This group could melt iron with how hot they can blow if they wanted to, and the restraint that they show throughout Enduring Sonance is downright endearing. Although it does make me yearn for a part two where this quintet cuts loose for 45 minutes. Then again, whatever Steve Wilson puts out, it’s bound to be great.

Altin Sencalar – Natural Rhythm (Posi-Tone Records)

It took me all of 20 seconds to declare, “well, we’ve got a record here!” after I pressed play on Altin Sencalar’s latest album, Natural Rhythm. The arrangement of Wayne Shorter’s “One by One,” now with an Afro-Cuban rhythm was cooking from the jump. It probably doesn’t hurt that this band consists of Sencalar on trombone, Alex Norris (Eddie Palmieri alum, by the way) on trumpet, Sharel Cassity on alto saxophone, Michael Dease on baritone saxophone, Art Hirahara on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass, Gary Kerkezou on drums and the legendary Alex Acuña on percussion. The album is split fairly evenly between some great Latin Jazz playing on the aforementioned “One by One,” J.J. Johnson’s “In Walked Horace,” and Sencalar’s “Baila de Plena,” “Descarga de Dia” and “Settling.” This is one solid Latin Jazz unit, by the way, and you’ll be hearing this one a bunch during The Latin Bit. The other half of the album is devoted to straight-ahead Jazz with some fantastic results. The solo trombone statement to open up a radically re-worked take on John Coltrane’s “Resolution” (from A Love Supreme) is a highlight, as are Sencalar’s originals like “Reflection” and “Run Away.” A second J.J. Johnson composition makes an appearance with “Lament,” and it is done beautifully. Altin Sencalar has really come up with a great record on Natural Rhythm, and I have a feeling that it’s going to be a favorite in the on-air studio here at WDCB.

Chris Hazelton – In Rotation (Cellar Music)

Kansas City based organist Chris Hazelton recently released a new album on Canada’s Cellar Music label. In Rotation is a deviation from his normal Boogaloo 7 band. Here, we get a quartet with saxophone (Brett Jackson), drums (John Kizlarmut) and vibes (Peter Schlamb), and that change of pace makes for an interesting listen.  Hazelton wrote a few great songs for the session, but it’s his choice in other folks’ music that lets you know what he’s up to on his latest release. Lee Morgan’s “Speedball,” Jimmy Heath’s “A Sound for Sore Ears,” Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” and Horace Silver’s “Summer in Central Park” are all fantastic, straightforward pieces that are perfect for a swinging organ quartet. That leaves Hazelton’s compositions, like “Paris of the Plains,” which is a hummable gem, the pretty waltz “First Snow,” and the boogaloo-ish “Brisk Breeze Through the Trees.” Put all of this together and you end up with a nine some collection of absolutely charming songs. In Rotation is the rare Jazz organ record that relies on finesse rather than grit and grease to get its point across, and while I love the grease more than most, I appreciate the more delicate touch heard here, and I think you will, too.