Jazz in the Afternoon with Chris Cooke

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding; and trombonist Steve Turre's new release “Woody's Delight” is a rich and highly palatable blend of straight ahead, relaxed and Latin sounds enhanced by an array of talented musicians augmenting the leader's consistently engaging compositional skills and playing. It's a marvelously diverse session and our CD of the month.

Mike Jacobs interviews jazz pianist and composer Paul Serrato about his career and his new release, "Alternations: Solo and Collective Expressions".  

(apologies for the sound quality of the second half of  the interview  -MH)

Another one of those live recordings that lets you feel that you are there.  Further Explorations is a 2 CD celebration of the music of Bill Evans with two of the former band mates of Evans on stage. There's Eddie Gomez, the legendary bassist who was with the Bill Evans trio for eleven years, 1966-1977.  Paul Motian is also on the stage, one of the most influential jazz drummers of the last 50 years who was with Evans from 1959 through 1964 .  Chick Corea, one of the most dynamic and creative pianists in all of jazz since Evans, joins Gomez and Motian.

Artist / CD Title / Record Label
Kurt Elling / The Gate / Concord Jazz
Bobby Sanabria & Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra / Tito Puente Masterworks Live !!! / Jazzheads
Ambrose Akin­musire / When The Heart Emerges Glistening / Blue Note
Giacomo Gates / The Revolution Will Be Jazz / Savant
Jessica Williams / Freedom Trane / Origin Records
One For All / Invades Vancouver / Cellar Live
Johnny Mandel / The Man and His Music / Arbors Music
Pat Martino / Undeniable / High Note

Trumpeter and flugelhornist Jimmy Owens, an NEA Jazz Master, has gathered an outstanding septet to reinterpret the Thelonious Monk Songbook on The Monk Project, just released on IPO Recordings.This is Owens debut as a leader and he has the backing of fellow NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron at the piano, Wycliffe Gordon- trombone, Marcus Strickland- tenor sax, Howard Johnson- tuba and baritone sax, Kenny Davis-bass and Winard Harper-drums.Highlights include a Latin take on Well You Needn't, a gutbucket blues arrangement of Blue Monk and Let's Cool One arranged as a waltz with Owens playin