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

Leigh Pilzer – Keep Holding On (Strange Woman Records)

Baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer hails from Washington D.C.’s Jazz scene. If her latest album, Keep Holding On, is any indication, that scene is swinging. Organist Paul Bratcher and drummer Greg Holloway are the rhythm section on every track, but five songs have guest stars on either trumpet or trombone. Wailing right out of the gate with “Swinging at the Station,” I was eager to hear how the rest of the album would pan out. I wasn’t disappointed. “What’s Up, Puppy” is right in the pocket and foot tappingly good. “Keep Holding On” is vaguely reminiscent of the Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt jam “You Talk that Talk.” “When it’s Gone” is a Jazz waltz that just drips with grease. “Zingamomma” is clearly looking to Booker T & The MG’s for inspiration, and “Just Another Pretty Song” shouldn’t sell itself short. Ms. Pilzer has put together quite a pleasant album with Keep Holding On.

Ted Rosenthal – The Good Old Days (self-produced)

I knew I wasn’t imagining things…Ted Rosenthal has been releasing albums at a speedy clip. It was just in November that he came out with High Standards, and now he’s back with The Good Old Days, which once again pairs the pianist with either Noriko Ueda or Martin Winds (bassists) and Tim Horner or Quincy Davis (drummers). Recently departed clarinetist Ken Peplowski makes two appearances here as well, on two of Rosenthal’s originals, “Hot Sauce” and “Sunny Side Up.” As a matter of fact, the vast majority of this program is made up of Rosenthal’s originals, which does give us a different side of Rosenthal than High Standards did. I don’t know how to explain it, but these songs sound like their titles. “Back Home in Okayama” sounds like someone happy to be back somewhere. “The Good Old Days” sounds like someone reminiscing. “Sultry Sweetie” has a bit of a “come hither” vibe to it. At the end of the day, they’re all enjoyable tunes. The ones that other folks wrote? Well, Rosenthal picked out some top shelf selections for those. Cole Porter’s “From This Moment On” was a great pick to start the album, and he acquits himself nicely on Scott Joplin’s “Maple Street Rag.” There’s a lot to like on The Good Old Days, and I think you’ll like it just as much as I do.

Paul Hecht – Pyrography II (Ears & Eyes Records)

Pianist Paul Hecht recently released the sequel to his debut album, Pyrography, named, perfectly enough, Pyrography II. Boasting an absolutely stellar cast of fellow Chicagoans, we also hear from Michael Hudson-Casanova on alto saxophone, James Davis on trumpet, Ben Dillinger on bass and Gustavo Cortiñas on drums. Throughout the course of the ten songs on the album, they get into quite a few bags. The straight ahead take on “Like Someone In Love” is fantastic. The playful version of John Coltrane’s “Countdown” is a pretty enjoyable way to spend three minutes. Originals like “Hero Complex,” “WWFH” and “Wayne” are unique and interesting. And I promise you, “Seriously” is going to show up on an episode of Notes from the Jazz Underground very soon. For folks still buying CD’s, buy this one. It’ll take you on a journey.