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

Clark Sommers - WaBash (Calligram Records)

Anyone that’s paid attention to the Chicago Jazz scene for more than a few passing moments has noticed that bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall make up one of the most solid rhythm sections you’ll see anywhere, and you see them all the time around these parts. Throw saxophonist Geof Bradfield into the mix, and the number of albums the three of them have played together on seems endless. Now put John Wojciechowski on saxophone as well, and you get Clark Sommers’ latest project, WaBash. A fascinating document, WaBash captures four monumental musical talents making high art together. Wojciechowski, Bradfield, Hall and Sommers all contributed songs to the album, and the cohesiveness throughout the disc is impressive. It’s not easy to pick out who wrote what; it all sounds of a piece. The one standard here is the lovely Dave Brubeck penned “In Your Own Sweet Way.” Sommers and Company should be proud. They knocked this one out of the park.

Jeff Rupert – Sea Spell (Rupe Media)

Saxophonist and director of Jazz Studies at University of Central Florida, Jeff Rupert, is back with a new album, Sea Spell. Joined by longtime compatriot Richard Drexler on piano, Ben Kramer on bass and legendary drummer Marty Morell, Sea Spell is a collection of mostly original material with a few standards thrown into the mix. The album starts off with one of those standards, “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,” which gets a lovely breezy feel. “Mambo Inn” gets a charming reading that is smile inducing, while “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” is given its usual role as a ballad, and it works quite well. “Look Who’s Calling” and “Wednesday’s News” are both nice swingers, while “Blue Steel” and “Orca-Station” both get tropical feels which make sense given where Rupert and Company take up residence. All in all, Sea Spell is a lovely album with a lot going for it.

Mike DiRubbo – Way Out Northwest (Cellar Music)

Saxophonist Mike DiRubbo found himself back in a recording studio Way Out Northwest in Vancouver with pianist Tilden Webb, bassist Jodi Proznick and drummer Jesse Cahill. They came up with eight hard swinging tracks for an album DiRubbo’s calling Way Out Northwest. From the first notes of the title track, it’s clear that you’re getting an old-school in the best way Jazz album. No frills. Direct. To the point. While I’d be hard-pressed to say this sounds like an old Blue Note record from the early 1960’s, that’s certainly the north star here. The ghosts of Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner and Jackie McLean are all over these compositions. If that’s not a reason to spend some time with this record, then, frankly, I don’t know what is. Check this one out!