Jazz On The Beach 151
Jazz On The Beach 151
Charles Owens, Delfeayo Marsalis, Russell Malone, Sonny Fortune and more
I’m always happy to play something fresh from the Richmond, Virginia based tenor saxophonist Charles Owens. He’s just released The Joy of Letting Go (La Reserve, August 23rd) from his upcoming trio album featuring bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Kofi Shepsu with Owens also switching over to piano half way through and back again for the ending. As Owens says:
“This is about letting go of old things, old dreams. It’s not a sad thing — it’s supposed to be a joyful thing. It’s basically, as a young person, what you dreamed your life was going to be is not exactly how it might have turned out. And not only is it okay to let go of that, it’s great, because you’ve let go of the expectations those dreams imposed on you. If you let go of that, you can have more joy in your life.”
Over the past few weeks the Jazz On The Beach playlist has featured some exciting new music from larger ensembles led by Daniel Casimir, Etienne Charles, Shane Allessio and Steve Feifke & Bijon Watson. To this list add trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz Orchestra with the soulfully strutting Sidewalk Sizzle from Crescent City Jewels (Troubadour Jass Records, August 30th), a very welcome celebration of the good things in life. Like his brothers Branford, Wynton and Jason, Delfeayo’s music conveys the spirit of New Orleans, instilled in them by the family patriarch, pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
Also on the playlist is another trombonist, Sean Nelson, who leads the 17 strong New London Big Band hailing from New London, Connecticut, and while Brisket and Beans from Social Hour! (MAMA Records, 2022) is not new, it’s sensational. And Edinburgh based Mahuki (aka guitarist Honza Kourimsky) leads his rhythm section, five horns and a string section on his exciting Warrior Path from Gratitude (Bridge The Gap, September 6th).
I was deeply sorry to hear of the sudden death of guitarist Russell Malone from a heart attack while on tour with Ron Carter in Tokyo. He was a wonderful musician and as supportive an accompanist as he was an inspiring soloist. I’ve selected his version of Jose Feliciano’s Theme from Chico and the Man from Time For The Dancers (High Note, 2017) performed with pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Luke Sellick and drummer Willie Jones III, it always makes me smile and reminds me of what an incredibly warm and friendly person he was.
There’s the terrific title track from New York pianist Emmet Cohen’s Vibe Provider (Mack Avenue, August 23rd) with double bassist Phillip Norris and drummer Kyle Poole plus tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, trumpeter Bruce Harris, trombonist Frank Lacy and Cecily Petrarca’s koshkah. The album is dedicated to Cohen’s late friend Michael Funmi Ononaiye - the Vibe Provider himself.
Also this week, the deeply grooving title track from London guitar ace Artie Zaitz’s much anticipated The Regulator (Banger Factory, September 6th) with Hammond organist Ross Stanley, drummer Steve Brown and Dave Pattman’s congas that opens with Fausta Joly’s poetry.
I’m really enjoying pianist Andrew Wilcox’s Muir Woods from Dear Mr Hill (Truth Revolution Recording Collective, August 16th), a homage to his mentors and influences that was produced by pianist Zaccai Curtis (his Cubop Lives! is a big JOTB favourite) and released on his Truth Revolution label. Wilcox has wonderful support from the vastly experienced rhythm section of double bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Yoron Israel.
The 22 year old Japanese guitarist Koichi Hirata may still be a University of Tokyo student, but you’d think he’s been around for years by his mature approach and mellow tone on Weaver of Dreams, recorded at Jazz House alfie in Tokyo, with pianist Mamoru Ishida, double bassist Yutaka Yoshida and drummer Yusuke Yaginuma, and released on the club’s own label (Live at alfie series No. 8, August 21st). It will be interesting to see just how Hirata’s own style develops in the future, but he’s off to a flying start.
And finally…digging deeper back to the spiritual and fusion era of the ‘70s, there’s saxophonist and flautist Sonny Fortune’s exhilarating title track from Serengeti Minstrel (Atlantic, 1977). Fortune plays soprano saxophone, piccolo and flute over an amazing groove from electric bassist Gary King, Fender Rhodes pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Horacee Arnold (who wrote it) and percussionist Rafael Cruz, with Sammy Figueroa playing congas and the great drummer Jack DeJohnette adding handclaps. Producer Ed Michel was responsible for so many fine albums ( think Pharaoh Sanders and Ahmad Jamal) and this is right up there with his best work.
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