3D Jazz Trio Christmas in 3D

3D Jazz Trio
Christmas in 3D
DIVA Jazz

Only a few months ago, this writer reviewed the 3D Jazz Trio's "I Love To See You Smile," a recording that certainly left listeners smiling. Now the trio of pianist Jackie Warren, bassist and fiddler Amy Shook, and drummer Sherrie Maricle return with a swinging dose of holiday cheer.

The strength of these recordings of songs that are mostly familiar are the arrangements and the vitality of the trio's playing. "Winter Wonderland" is a sparkling performance with Warren's improvisation going far beyond simple melodic embellishments. It is followed by a fabulous calypso treatment of "Up On The Housetop," with an irresistible rhythmic pulse. This track and the Afro-Cuban arrangement of "O Christmas Tree" showcase Maricle's infectious groove making. Amy Shook's fiddle at the beginning of "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)" opens the piece as a country hoedown stomp before the performance segues into a rollicking shuffle.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" begins as a duet between Shook and Maricle before Warren enters with a solo hinting at the familiar melody. Warren also dazzles on a sprite interpretation of "Greensleeves." The trio's love of Latin grooves is reflected In the Brazilian-spirited treatment of the folk hymn "I Wonder As I Wander," while the trio provides a spirited rendition of "White Christmas." "Silent Night" opens with Warren's gospel-inspired piano before Shook and Maricle add a restrained backing. Shook adds a bowed solo set against Warren's chords and Maricle's deft use of brushes.

A delightful swinging treatment of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" closes this album. The joyful "Christmas in 3D" is not merely a terrific holiday album, but also an outstanding piano trio recording.

I received a copy to review from a publicist.

3D Jazz Trio I Love To See You Smile

3D Jazz Trio
I Love To See You Smile
DIVA Jazz

The 3D Jazz Trio is an offshoot of the Diva Jazz Orchestra, which is led by drummer Sherrie Maricle. Also, it includes Orchestra members, Jackie Warren on piano, and Amy Shook on bass. Back in late 2017, I reviewed an album by the three as by 3 Divas. All three have impressive resumes as players, composers, and educators, and I found this earlier recording to be "a marvelous recording by a superb trio.'

The same strengths they exhibited on the prior recording are here. The three are marvelous instrumentalists who have developed telepathic chemistry. They have selected some excellent songs to interpret, starting with the title track (from the film "Parenthood"), with its easy groove. Shook's bass is an anchor on this while Maricle swings, and Warren's displays her adept fluid, lyrical piano. Warren's playing on the oft-recorded "Besame Mucho" displays her sense of dynamics and ability to caress a melody as she does in her solo intro. After the intro, the trio's performance segues into a tropical groove. The trio's affinity for Latin Jazz is also showcased on a buoyant "Recado Bossa Nova."

Evoking Junior Mance, the three play a rollicking rendition of Jimmy Smith's "Back to the Chicken Shack," with Maricle adding some rhythmic explosions. "Angel Eyes" places the spotlight on Shook with her bass intro and also her Arco playing over Warren's softly played riff and Maricle's brushes. They close with "L.O.V.E," which is a tribute to Maurice Hines, Jr., who brought the trio together. It was featured in Hines' musical "Tappin' Through Life," and the trio's rendition ends another superlative album on an exhilarating note.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is a video of the 3D Jazz Trio performing "Back at the Chicken Shack."

Kelly Bell Know My Name

Kelly Bell
Know My Name
Phat Blues Records

A new album by the Kelly Bell Band is a cause of celebration, particularly for music fans in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (the DMV). This new release of 'Phat Blues," With his band comprising of Dane Paul Russell (Harmonica), Frankie Hernandez (Bass/Vocals), John Robert Buell (Drums/Vocals), Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge (Vocals/Percussion), Ryan Fowler (Guitars/Vocals) and Eric Robinson (Guitars/Vocals) he has his latest musical genre-bending effort. Others appearing include Dave Tieff, Julie Cymek, and Justin Schlegel on vocals; Ira Mayfield Jr. (acoustic guitars); Kirk Myers (on) keyboards; Russell McCray (alto sax); Bryan Ewald (guitar); The Phat Blues Horn Section of Zach Smith (trumpet and arranger), Davidson Smith (trumpet), Leigh Pilzer (tenor/baritone sax) and Todd Baldwin (Trombone), and strings played by Amy Shook (cello, viola, violin).

Plat Blues is not a traditional blues fans idea of blues. Instead, it is a genre-busting mix of blues, soul, funk, jazz, psychedelic rock, and hip hop. The opening "Long Train" is a hard blues-rock performance with a heavy, driving groove which shifts into a swinging jump blues "Last $4" with a riffing horn section (along with Russell's robust harp solo), and a jazzy guitar solo as Bell wants to fill up the dance floor. It displays much better than the opening selection, Kelly Bell's appealing, soulful singing. Sweetened a little by Amy Shook's strings, "First Moments" is a lovely classic soul ballad about only wanting to be with one.

Other songs include the irresistible groove of "Good Thing" with a rockabilly undercurrent, riffing horns, a scorching harmonica solo, and a spirited vocal duet with a woman (Julie Cymek?). There is also a funky celebration of what a woman does to Bell "You Don't Know" with a hip hop interlude echoing the song's chorus, and the atmospheric title track about a fight between his parents, his father leaving telling him to take care of mama and be strong. It has Bell's moving vocal supported by the backing vocalists set against an emphatic backing. "Every Time" is another stellar, slow soulful performance about this a lady that Bell is obsessed with, singing he never whats to be without her and can't live without her.

"In the Late Hours," is when Bell needs his woman as he hugs his pillow missing her with a saxophone adding commentary to his vocal with Shook's strings adding to the mood of Bell's urgent, pleading vocal. It closes this thoroughly entertaining and varied collection of performances. Wonderfully produced and recorded "Know My Name" should have everyone knowing who Kelly Bell is. His website is https://www.kellybellband.com.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video for "Long Train."

 

Leigh Pilzer Strunkin’

Leigh Pilzer
Strunkin’
Self-Produced

One of the mainstays of the very fertile Washington D.C. jazz scene, this is the first album for baritone saxophonist, composer and arranger Leigh Pilzer. A member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra as well as one who frequently can be heard with other area ensembles. On this album, recorded live at the 6th Annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival, she leads a terrific ensemble that also includes Jen Krupa, trombone; Sherrie Maricle, drums; Amy Shook, bass; and Jackie Warren, piano. She composed six of the eight compositions with Amy Shook contributing "Brag Time," and Jen Krupa contributing “Duel at Dawn."

The title track is a jaunty number that to me suggests a classic Prestige Records date with Pilzer's vigorous, heavy tone suggesting the likes of Pepper Adams, Nick Brignola, and Cecil Payne, while Krupa's trombone complements Pilzer and displays her own strong playing, with Warren also spotlighted. This is a superb rhythm section. There is a nice romantic tinge to "Blue Moo," with Krupa taking the lead as Pilzer weaves around her on the head on this wonderfully paced number that also showcases Amy Shook's firm, driving bass. A Harry Carney-Duke Ellington flavor is heard on a lovely ballad "Miss Ally In Allyworld," while Shook opens "Brag Time" with a finger popping groove on this hard swinging number that has  marvelous growling trombone in a Tricky Sam Nanton manner, along with Warren's rollicking piano. Pilzer seems to relish focusing on the low end of the baritone's register, yet swings in an effortless sounding manner as on "Thaddish," as well as her bossa nova "It's Anyone But You," with its exchanges between her and Krupa and also provides solo space for all including Marcie. There is a playful opening of bop-laced "Duel at Dawn," with Maricle's drums adding considerable heat with echoes of Tadd Dameron on the close.

What a wonderful recording. These are all musicians playing with passion, intelligence and imagination and with the excellent rhythm section and the marvelous solos, one has a superb recording that has one wanting more.

I received as a download from a publicist. Here is Leigh Pilzer's recent performance at Phillips Collection as part of the 2017 DC Jazz Festival.

Sharon Clark at the 2013 Mid Atlantic Jazz Fest Day 2

20130216 Mid Atlantic Jazz Fest Day 2-2160280, a photo by NoVARon on Flickr.

Part of The Vocal Summit that took place Saturday Afternoon, February 16 at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Sharon Clark displayed during her songs as well as that evening as part of a stellar Women in Jazz group why she is a true local treasure and among the finest jazz singers anywhere (the NY Times had a rave review of her recent appearance in the Big Apple). Along with singers Carmen Bradford (ex-Count Basie) and Lynette Washington, she treated the afternoon audience in Rockville, Maryland to some wonderful singing. The three were backed by the wonderful Chris Grasso and his trio.

Later that night Sharon's rich voice was part of the marvelous Women In Jazz group (pictured below).

Sharon Clark at the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival as part of Women In J with Sharel Cassity on saxophone, Amy Shook on bass and Allison Miller on drums. Not pictured, pianist Helen Sung.

One Week From Today - Full Day of Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

This is the second of my daily previews of this year's Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival for which I had a preview on January 15.  Today I am focusing on the programs that are scheduled to take place next Saturday, February 16.

Today's headliner is one of the legends of the Hammond B-3, Dr. Lonnie Smith (in the clip above),  who will be coming on at 10:PM after a full day of jazz. The main stage starts at noon with bass clarinetist Todd Marcus leading a group which will have as special guest, clarinet master Don Byron. Then there is a vocal summit with Sharon Clark, Lynette Washington and former Count Basie singer Carmen Bradford, backed by the Chris Grasso Trio. Saturday afternoon concludes with the Akira Tsuruga Quartet, featuring the Japanese born organist who is a mainstay on the NYC scene. In  addition to her performance, she will also be interviewed. Other interviews on saturday include Orrin Evans and Tim Warfield being interviewed.

Saturday Night’s on the Main Stage opens with the Larry Willis Quintet (in the clip above) with trombonist Steve Davis, saxophonist Joe Ford, bassist Steve Novosel and Billy Williams on drums. This is quite an impressive grouping including former McCoy Tyner saxophonist Ford and Rashaan Roland Kirk bassist Novosel in addition to the leader. It will be followed by a supergroup, Women In Jazz, which includes vocalist Sharon Clark, saxophonist Sharel Cassity, pianist Helen Sung, bassist Amy Shook and drummer Allison Miller.

Other performances at the Festival on Saturday include saxophonist Marshall Keys, vocalist Janine Gilbert-Carter (seen in the clip above) with a group that includes saxophonist Brian Settles and saxophonist Bruce Swaim.  In the Juke Joint, Clarence 'The Bluesman' Turner will be performing. Turner is a past winner of the DC Blues Society's Battle of the Bands, and played the DC Blues Festival and other regional blues events. Like the other nights at the festival, Wes Biles conducts a jam at Midnight.

This promises to be another spectacular program for jazz lovers.