Damian Erskine/To Speak (Independent): Alternately rollicking and reflective, Damien Erskine and his band sound much larger than just a quintet plus horns and percussion here. Whether it’s guitarist Chris Mosley stepping to the fore or percussionist Reinhardt Melz taking the reins (in tandem with Derek Rieth), the band can insinuate with the utmost authority. All the while leader/bassist Erskine leads by stealth, hardly taking solos but nevertheless setting so staunch a tone, his bandmates ultimately play with pride to keep that pace. The nephew of a great drummer (Peter) may follow in an ever wider tradition of jazz drummers who lead trailblazing groups.
Vijay Iyer Trio/Historicity (Act Music + Vision) Music just pours forth from pianist Vijay Iyer and he hits each and every note so resoundingly (yet melodiously). he reminds the piano is a percussion instrument. He’s a sage bandleader too, choosing men to play with him who can maneuver the flow of melody and rhythm with nearly as much abandon. The clarity of this recording matches that of the trio’s interaction, as Iyer, while he leads by example (as well as billing), remains well into the mix; interacting intelligently with bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, who are articulate musicians in their own right.
Jared Gold/ Supersonic (Posi-Tone): Emphatically traditional, the keyboardist seems fiercely loyal to the sound of a guitar drums and Hammond B-3 organ trio as first conceived by Jimmy Smith. Yet Gold and company don’t sound static or academic anywhere on this CD, The Beatles: "In My Life" included. On the contrary, there’s a freshness in their playing, the sound of musicians discovering the the beauty and deceptive simplicity of a classy jazz sound. it’s gratifying to hear the contemporary likes of Lennon/McCartney compositions set in the context of jazz tradition, boldly rendered as a means of giving the musicians a workout.
David Ashkenazy/ Out With It (Posi-Tone): While the version "I Want You" here is an intense tour de force, David Ashkenazy and company jump right into action on this album with ad adventurous run through of Wayne Shorter’s "Children of the Night." Covering Stephen Foster as well as Lennon/McCartney is further testament to an element of courage that permeates this entire effort. The inclusion of Beatles material lives up to its durability and flexibility as well as its mainstream fame, during instrumental arrangements develop their own character.
Wolfgang Muthspiel & Mick Goodrick: Live at the Jazz Standard (Material): Wielding their electric guitars with as much grace as finesse, Muthspiel and Goodrick appear to be playing independently of each other here—or so it seems on first Hearing. a closer listen, however, revels how the pair interweave melody lines and rhythmic parts equally fluently in a demonstration of just how difficult it is to play music well with other musicians and how rewarding to hear it done in such detail. This is a remarkable display of understated empathy.
