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

Bobby Watson – Continuum (High Note)

The monumental saxophonist Bobby Watson just released a new album, Continuum. Joined by trumpeter Wallace Roney, Jr., trombonist Kysen Ellis, Jordan Williams on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass and Victor “Yahya” Jones on drums, Watson sounds as good as ever on the nine songs recorded here. Kicking off with the fiery “On the One,” it’s immediately apparent that you’re going to be in for a fun ride. “Carter’s Way (for Larry)” has a calypso-esque bounce to it that’s infectious. “Pappy’s Prophecy” takes a minute to kick into gear, but when it does, it’s powerful. “Soul Eyes” gets a beautiful reading, and the set ending “Letter to Bobby” is a hot and hummable swinger. The energy is palpable throughout Continuum, and there are many highlights throughout its one-hour runtime.

Joey DeFrancesco – Live at Keystone Korner (Mack Avenue)

It’s crazy to think that the concerts featured on Joey DeFrancesco’s posthumous release, Live at Keystone Korner, were recorded a week before he died. He was clearly in top form, locked in with an empathetic trio that also featured Lucas Brown on guitar, and Anwar Marshall on drums. Besides his usual organ duties, DeFrancesco plays swinging bebop trumpet on “Free” and expressive saxophone on “Lady G,” and on those, Brown takes on the organ duties. On the rest of the album, DeFrancesco was as jaw-dropping an organist as ever, switching between foot tapping swing and neck popping funk on “Awake and Blissed,” and grooving hard on the jazz-waltz “Vibrations in Blue.” DeFrancesco proves to be quite the effective balladeer on “In Times of Reflection,” and he shows just how slick he can get with the funk on both “Inner Being” and the closing “One More Blues.” If you never got to experience seeing Joey D live in person, Live at Keystone Korner gets you pretty close.

Planet Flippo – Four Chefs (Oppilf Records)

Pianist, composer and arranger Dr. Dave Flippo has been a fixture on the Chicago music scene for years, playing mostly original music, and occasionally throwing some modern popular song choices into the mix as well. His latest album, Four Chefs, continues on that same path. Planet Flippo’s got some pretty great astronauts flying their spaceship: the aforementioned Flippo on piano, Dan Hesler on woodwinds, Donn De Santo on bass and Heath Chappell on drums. The vast majority of Four Chefs is dedicated to original material here, and said material is impressive. “Stretchin’ It” gets things off to a rousing start. “Tumbling Up” sees Flippo switch melodica and the Melodica for some interesting textural changes. “Blue Eleven” is indeed in 11/8 time, and the odd meters stick around for (parts of) Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.” I forget who said that Bach was already playing Be-Bop, and it just took Bird to make it swing, but Flippo drives home that point on “Danke Bach.” “Spin Control” is a lot of fun, hearing this band swinging with abandon. The album ends with a unique take on Sly & The Family Stone’s “Everyday People.” It’s always great to get to support our local artists in this space, and I’m glad Planet Flippo is still putting out engaging and energetic music that you can go see live and in the flesh every week. And now you can hear him on WDCB, too!