Kenny Washington What's The Hurry

Kenny Washington
What's The Hurry
Lower 9th Records

Vocalist Kenny Washington (not to be confused with the well-known drummer of the same name) is a New Orleans native who relocated to the San Francisco Bay area after discharge from the Navy. He performed in an Off-Broadway jazz production that also took him to Europe. After returning to San Francisco, he was brought back to New York with vibraphonist Joe Locke for a performance at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has appeared on several recordings from saxophonist Michael O'Neill and has two live recordings under his name. He has many fans, including vocalist Karrin Allysin, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

On this CD, Washington is accompanied by a core group of pianist Josh Nelson, Gary Brown on acoustic bass, and Lorca Hart on drums. Others on this recording include saxophonist Victor Goines, guitarist Jeff Massanari, trumpeter Mike Olmos, percussionist Peter Michael Escovedo, bassist Dan Feizli, trombonist Jeff Cressman, and percussionist Ami Molinelli-Hart.

This is a well-programmed album, with Washington singing in a variety of settings ranging from piano trio backing, guitar or bass backing, and small combo with horns. Washington is a singer with a considerable vocal range and a slight vibrato. He stands out with his phrasing, the clarity of his delivery of the lyrics and his horn-like scatting and whistling. The backing is immaculate, starting with the piano trio on "The Best Is Yet to Come." Massanari provides a supple guitar backing for delightful renditions of "S'Wonderful" and "I Got the World on a String." Goines adds his fruity tenor sax to Brown's bass intro on an exquisite "Stars Fell on Alabama," with Nelson and Hart adding their understated backing midway, with Brown soloing. Nelson's elegant, skilled piano and Olmos' soft growling trumpet are part of the backing for Washington's melancholic interpretation of Duke Ellington's "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues."

Washington's performance of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is a duet with pianist Nelson whose restrained backing adds to the intimacy of the performance. Escovedo's bongos kick off a Latin-feel to washington's reading of the jazz classic, "Invitation," with Nelson taking a stunning piano solo. Washington's hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Here's To Life" is perhaps the album's high point, which is high praise for an excellent recording. Bassist Dan Feizli accompanies Washington on a buoyant "Sweet Georgia Brown," where Washington displays his abilities scatting. A full band with Goines on clarinet, Cressman on trombone, and Molinelli-Hart on percussion provide an effervescent Brazilian groove for Washington as he sings the Jobim-de Moraes Bossa classic "No More Blues (Chega de Saudade)." Goines' blues-inflected clarinet is showcased along with Washington's vocal and scatting.

Guitarist Massanari returns to back Washington on Charlie Chaplin's "Smile." It closes a wonderfully produced and recorded CD that displays Washington's superlative jazz vocals.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a recent performance of Kenny Washington singing "Cry Me a River."

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis The Music of Wayne Shorter

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The Music of Wayne Shorter
Blue Engine Records

In the booklet accompanying this new recording devoted to the music of Wayne Shorter from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), Christian McBride writes, "How would I describe Wayne Shorter? It would be way too easy to call him something like a "legend" or a "genius." Those are words that get thrown around much too easily in today's 140-character culture. Wayne's career is well-known and widely celebrated by not only the jazz community, but by music lovers all over the world. Simply put, he helped to expand the language of modern American music as both a composer and a saxophonist."

This recording memorializes performances by Shorter with JLCO from Mat 2015. It is one of several recordings celebrating Shorter's music joining those by the San Francisco Jazz Ensemble, David Weiss, Antonio Adolfo, and others. Shorter appears on tenor and soprano saxophones with JCLO. The members of JLCO at these performances included: Reeds - Sherman Irby: Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Piccolo, Bb Clarinet, Ted Nash: Alto & Tenor Saxophones, C And Alto Flutes, Piccolo, Bb Clarinet, Victor Goines: Tenor Saxophone, Bb & Eb Clarinets; Walter Blanding: Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Bb Clarinet, and Paul Nedzela: Baritone & Alto Saxophones, Bass Clarinet; Trumpets -Ryan Kisor, Kenny Rampton, Marcus Printup, and Wynton Marsalis, Trombones - Vincent Gardner, Chris Crenshaw, and Elliot Mason, and a rhythm section of Dan Nimmer, Piano, Carlos Henriquez, Bass and Ali Jackson, Drums.

The Shorter compositions performed are: "Yes or No," "Diana," "Hammer Head," "Contemplation," "Endangered Species," "Lost," "Armageddon," "The Three Marias," "Teru," and "Mama 'G'." Most of the compositions date from 1959-1966, but a couple are from his Columbia album "Atlantis." Members of the JCLO wrote the arrangements to these compositions that were generally performed by smaller ensembles.

There is some marvelous music here starting with Victor Goines sterling arrangement of "Yes or No" that opens with Shorter on tenor sax. Goines' rich orchestration of the horns frames some terrific solos from Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, and pianist Dan Nimmer. One thing that also is readily noticeable is the superb rhythm section of Nimmer, Henriquez, and Jackson. Ted Nash's arrangement on "Diana" provides a lush, serene setting for Shorter's soprano sax and the trumpets of Marsalis and Printup." Sherman Irby put together as bouncy big band setting for "Hammer Head," a classic from Shorter's time with Art Blakey. Irby on alto sax and trombonist Vincent Gardner solo in addition to Shorter while rhythm trio keeps a tight groove.

Other notable selections include "Endangered Species" with one of Shorter's best soprano sax solos on this date and one of Ali Jackson's drum solos set against Gardner's imaginative arrangement. There is a bit of organized chaos at the opening of Marcus Printup's arrangement of "Armageddon," with Nimmer's block chords lending a roomy ambiance here. Shorter's swirling soprano sax is spotlighted in Carlos Henriquez's arrangement of "The Three Marias." At the center of this performance though is Shorter's soprano sax set against just the rhythm section. Jackson's accompaniment is especially noteworthy. All three members of the rhythm section get to solo on the vibrant "Mama 'G'," with fiery playing from Shorter. Jackson's volcanic drum solo that brings this performance (and this recording) to a highly charged close.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under Wynton Marsalis' direction has a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its music. The concerts with Wayne Shorter resulted in this vibrant superlative collaboration with Wayne Shorter.

I received my review download from a publicist. Here the JLCO perform "Hammerhead."

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Big Band Holidays II

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Big Band Holidays II
Blue Engine Records

Among the new recordings to help folks celebrate the winter holidays is "Big Band Holidays II" by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This celebrated Orchestra brings big band swing to some holiday favorites and some lesser-known tunes for this time of year. The musicians contributing to these performances from the Orchestra's annual Holiday programs are: Reeds - Sherman Irby –  alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute; music director (2015-2016); Ted Nash – alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute; Victor Goines – music director (2018); tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet; Walter Blanding (2015–2017) – tenor saxophone, clarinet, shaker; Paul Nedzela – baritone and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet; *Camille Thurman (2018) – tenor and soprano saxophones; Trumpets - Marcus Printup; Kenny Rampton; Wynton Marsalis (music director, 2017/18); *Ryan Kisor (2015, 2017-2018);*Greg Gisbert (2016); *Bruce Harris (2016);*Tatum Greenblatt (2017); Trombones - Vincent Gardner; Chris Crenshaw; Elliot Mason (2015-2016, 2018); *Sam Chess (2017); *Eric Miller (2018); and Rhythm Section - Dan Nimmer – piano; Carlos Henriquez – bass; Ali Jackson (2015-2016) – drums; *Marion Felder (2017) – drums; and *Charles Goold (2018) – drums. Those named marked with an asterisk are substitute orchestra members. Guests on this release include Aretha Franklin – vocals and piano; Audrey Shakir – vocals; Denzal Sinclaire vocals; Catherine Russell – vocals; Veronica Swift – vocals; James Chirillo – guitar.

Anyone who has seen the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) knows what a superb band it is whose members are excellent session players and also fabulous soloists. It is a terrific big band in the Count Basie or Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Bands vein. The JLCO members contributing the arrangements for these eleven wonderful performances that open with Wynton Marsalis' arrangement of "Winter Wonderland," where Marsalis' trumpet is only one of the exceptional soloists. Catherine Russell is present for three vocals with her singing on Steve Allan's "Cole Yule" standing out. Sherman Irby arranged this, and he soloed brilliantly. Denzel Sinclaire is heard singing on an animated "We Three Kings" and a bluesy arrangement of "Silent Night." The former number was arranged by Carlos Henriquez and also features Paul Nedzela's superb baritone sax. Victor Goines arranged "Silent Night," which has James Chirillo's bluesy guitar solo. Aretha Franklin is stunning on "O Tannenbaum," accompanied only by her piano. Vocalist Veronica Swift shines on "(Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag," with Vincent Gardner's trombone (quoting "Frosty the Snowman") in the spotlight. Walter Blanding is responsible for the swinging arrangement.

The other performances are similarly first-rate, including the buoyant Latin groove of "Brazilian Sleigh Bells." Wynton Marsalis makes the announcements and salutes the various soloists on these excellent, vibrant, toe-tapping, brassy performances. "Big Band Holidays II" will undoubtedly bring plenty of holiday cheer to any holiday celebrations.

I received a download to review from Jazz at Lincoln Center/ Blue Engine Records. Here is the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing "Sleigh Ride."