The Janet Lawson Quintet

The Janet Lawson Quintet
The Janet Lawson Quintet
BBE Records

This is an expanded re-release of a Grammy nominated album by The Janet Lawson Quintet. It was originally issued on Inner City Records in 1981 and augmented by four selections from a tribute to Miles Davis in the late 1990s. Lawson was born in Baltimore before moving to New York for decades of performing as well as teaching. Recently she has had health issues and moved back to Baltimore to be with family. The Janet Lawson Quintet on the Inner City recording included Bill O’Connell, piano; Ratzo Harris, bass; Roger Rosenberg, sax/flute; and Jimmy Madison, drums. For the Miles Davis Tribute, Mike Richmond was on bass and Billy Hart on drums.

What becomes clearly evident on the opening "You Promised" is how commanding she was with her articulation and interpretation of lyrics, with her attention to diction and the nuances of words, through her phrasing, intonation, range and dynamics as well as magic of wordless improvisation lyrics with her, where her voice becomes another horn and becomes as important a solo voice as the instrumentalists, reflecting perhaps her studies with Warne Marsh. It does not hurt that she is backed by a superb band with O'Connell's soloing (and accompanying) brilliantly in addition to Rosenberg's flighty flute or meaty saxophone. Another stunning performance is of Fats Waller classic "Jitterbug Waltz," where Rosenberg's sax enters after Lawson opens it scatting the theme on a performance that seems modeled on Eric Dolphy's. Lawson's riveting scatted solo is followed my O'Connell's own fresh improvisation. "Round Midnight" generally lends itself to perhaps a more reflective tenor, but her scatting is followed by some brawny tenor sax.

From the Miles Davis session, there is an inspired interpretation of "It Ain't Necessarily So," with Mike Richmond adding a bass solo as well as a lovely "I Thought About You," and a stunning free-bop of "Joshua" from Miles' second great quintet. The remainder of this release is of a similar high level." The Press release for the British release mentions the inclusion of her rendition of Jobim's "Dindi," but that was not included on the review copy I received, so I am not sure whether that is included in the US release. The copy of the CD I received also did not list the personnel that I have included in this review. But with 72 minutes of often stunning music, this expanded "The Janet Lawson Quintet" makes for enthralling listening.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the July-August 2017 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 373).
 

Chris Rogers Voyage Home

Chris Rogers
Voyage Home
Art of Life Records

This album is the debut as a leader by trumpeter Chris Rogers, who is the son of legendary salsa and latin jazz trombonist Barry Rogers. Rogers was also with the Brecker Brothers and Billy Cobham, a founding member of the legendary jazz-rock band "Dreams." A remarkable player, he replaced Tom Harrell in Gerry Mulligan's Concert Band at the age of 19. Rogers himself states about his background, "“Listening to Mike, Randy and my dad playing together, and all Barry’s great solos on those classic Eddie Palmieri sides pretty much informed my concepts... and have been such towering influences upon me that the music here can be considered a direct reflection of their incredible spirits.”

There is a wonderful cast for this recording (recorded in 2001 but now released) with the bass/drums tandem of Jay Anderson and Steve Johns, pianist Xavier Davis, Synthesizer/keyboard wizard Mark Falchook joins the rhythm section on three. Two selections have the great Mike Brecker (Randy contributed to the liner booklet), and four have tenor and alto saxophonist Ted Nash, while baritone saxophonist Roger Rosenberg and trombonist Art Baron perform on a very special dedication to Barry Rogers - enhanced by the great man himself on an introductory trombone cadenza (thanks to the blessings of technology). Also guitarist Steve Khan is on three tracks, two of which include conguero/percussionist Willie Martinez.

Rogers contributed the nine compositions performed here which might in overly simplistic terms be viewed as being rooted in the post-Coltrane and Blue Note hard bop of the late sixties and beyond. The opening "Counter Change" certainly starts in that mode with the leader's crisp trumpet and Brecker's robust, volcanic tenor sax while the following title track (dedicated to Dan Grolnick) has a dreamy flow that to these ears evokes some of Herbie Hancock's recordings and has some lovely tenor from Nash. While "Whit's End" alludes to Whit Sidener, Rogers' teacher at the University of Miami, it is dedicated to Michael Brecker, who is brilliant here also playing with virtuosity and imagination while Rogers own playing displays his clarity and bite.

Dedicated to Lew Soloff, "The Mask" has a bluesy funk feel to it with more strong tenor from Nash. "Ballad for B.R." is dedicated to his father and the opening trombone cadenza is lifted from one of his father's solos with Eddie Palmieri. Art Baron on trombone and Roger Rosenberg on baritone sax join Nash and Rogers for this performance with some lovely arranging of the four horns in stating the theme and coloring the solos by Nash, bassist Anderson, Rogers, Rosenberg and Nash on an enchanting performance.

There is a three song suite of songs that feature guitarist Steve Khan, starting with "Rebecca" dedicated to Ray Barretto, a spritely paced latin jazz composition that he brought to a Barretto rehearsal. Pianist Hector Martignon named it after Rogers' sister who had attended on of their gigs. Dedicated to Mike Lawrence, "Ever After", was Rogers' first composition. It is a lovely ballad with the lyricism of Rogers and Khan evident throughout set against a light samba-like rhythm. "Six Degrees" is described as a bebop-influenced composition, with Rogers playing a mute (evoking Miles to an extent) with Khan's gorgeous comping in addition to his own marvelous solo. Bassist Anderson is also showcased here.

Nash returns for "The 12-Year Itch," whose title refers in part to it taking 12 years to finish this jazz shuffle. The head of this bouncy performance reminds me of some of Woody Shaw's compositions. Pianist Davis is featured here with a solid improvisation, along with by the two horns. It closes an excellent recording that sounds contemporary today.

My review copy was received from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the March-April 2017  Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 371). Here is a short video clip of Chris Rogers on flugelhorn.

 

Roland Vazquez's "The Visitor" Is Superb Big Band Jazz

Composer-Arranger-Drummer Roland Vazquez has been on the scene for sometime and in the late 70s was a member of Clare Fischer’s all-star band “Salsa Picante.” Later working in New York, he attended the Manhattan School of Music, obtaining a Masters in Music and while continuing to play, lead ensembles and compose, he also started teaching at the Manhattan School. He has also taught at University of Michigan and the American Academy in rome to illustrate his experiences. His compositions have not been limited to jazz, but also chamber music, and have been performed in a number of contexts including one that was for a string quartet and orchestra. His new recording, “The Visitor” (RVCD/Roland Music) is a big band recoding that includes several of his compositions that he has been performing, but with the help of a grant from The Aaron Copland Fund For Music, he was able to get this recording memorialized in a studio and issued.

Besides composing six of the seven selections, Vazquez conducts the wonderful big band heard here. I confess not being familiar with most of the musicians on this recording. Joel Frahm on saxophones was the most familiar name but many of the participants have made a strong impression including the rhythm section of pianist Luis Perdomo; guitarist pete McCann; electric bassist James Genus; drummer Ignacio Berroa; and percussionist (also on congas) Samuel Torres. The compositions are inspired, the arrangements vital and the solos are striking.

The opening composition, “ Urantia” is taken for a mythical name for earth and after an opening section with some wonderful piano by Perdomo, both Aaron Heick on alto sax and Alex Norris on trumpet solo propelled by the Afro-Cuban rhythmic foundation laid by the rhythm section. “Thru a Window,” opens with a languid unaccompanied piano by Perdomo section before the tempo kicks up a notch with Christos Rafaelides adding coloring on the vibes with e composer’s exhilarating arrangement for the reeds and brass. There is also strong tenor from Dan Willis, soprano sax from Roger Rosenberg, and with striking percussion playing from Berroa and Torres. Torres’ percussion evokes the ocean tide coming ashore at the beginning of the title track which is a feature of Frahm’s saxophone and Perdomo’s piano. One is delighted by Vazquez’s layering of sounds and the interplay between the brass and reeds.

One might find it impossible not to be at least tapping one’s feet on “ Whirlpool” with its driving and funky latin rhythm, with Heick’s strong alto playing benefiting from the imaginative musical colors Vazquez’s has provided him. “Sevilla” is a reflection of a time in medieval Spain when their was co-existence between Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities and the inspiration of that time compared to contemporary intolerance with some exquisite playing by Perdomo. Clare Fischer’s “Guarabe’” was part of a Grammy Award winning recording, “Salsa Picante,” and this lively big band recasting serves as a fitting salute to a mentor with more spirited piano and alto saxophone, with Perdomo introducing a tempo change introducing a blustery baritone sax solo by Rosenberg followed by the horns soaring behind Norris’ fiery trumpet and to the performances exciting conclusion.

The concluding “ The Path of Change” is described as “an episodic ‘Latin rhythmic chamber jazz,’” that was more recently translated from small group to full big band orchestration and provides guitarist McCann to take the forefront with some Santana inspired playing prior to Berroa and Torres taking the spotlight as a baritone sax and responding horns provide a musical backdrop. This is a strong conclusion to one of the best big band recordings I have heard in some time. Highly recommended. This is available from cdbaby and downloadable at itunes. His website is http://www.rolandvazquez.com.


For purposes of FTC regulations, I received a review copy from the publicist for this release.