Music: Current count 20816 [20786] rated (+30), 583 [592] unrated (-9).
Had a scare in the rated count when an editing mishap caused the count to drop, despite what felt like a lot of effort. Took a couple hours to track down and restore the lossage. Plus-thirty is my standard for a heavy week, and it feels like it's getting heavier all the time. I'm going to take a break, at least from Jazz Prospecting, for a few weeks -- at least until after the first, perhaps longer. I still expect to post a Rhapsody Streamnotes sometime this month -- I have about 20 records in the file -- and there will probably be a Recycled Goods in early January (only one record there, so don't expect much).
Work file currently has 168 records in it, but the 2012 subset is down to: 85. (The remainder includes 10 records with 2013 release dates, plus stuff that I've been super-slow getting to -- 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 12; 2008: 5; 2009: 13; 2010: 22; 2011: 15 -- not that the possibility of bookkeeping error can be excluded.) But of those 85 unheard 2012 releases, only 7 show up in this year'smetacritic file (and one of those just came in the mail today, and two more I just noticed in rechecking my numbers). Should have done better, but it's been a tough year, and I did about as well as I ever have. Chances are less than a handful of those 85 will eventually pan out. Much more likely I missed things I didn't get. I'll generate a list of those when the Jazz Critics' Poll results are posted.
One more note: I'm painfully aware that a few of the following say nothing of note (e.g., Anthony Branker). Sometimes I get to a grade point and find I have nothing much to say. Seems like that's happening more and more here. Something that bothers me, but for now I figure it's better than nothing.
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Jeff Babko: Crux (2012, Tonequake): Keyboard player, from California, fifth album since 1995, lots of studio work, arranger for Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003. I figure this multi-layered momentum for fusion, most striking when the trumpet (Walt Fowler or Mark Isham) cuts through the haze, least when Babko indulges the strings.B+(*)
Anthony Branker & Ascent: Together (2012, Origin): Composer-arranger, commands a postbop quintet here with two saxes, fender rhodes, bass, and drums.B+(**)
John Daversa: Artful Joy (2012, BFM Jazz): Trumpet player, also dabbles with EVI, from Los Angeles, studied at UCLA, third album since 2009, last one a big band deal, this smaller -- electric keybs give it a fusion sound, which he keep supbeat and engaging.B+(*)
Hal Galper Trio: Airegin Revisited (2012, Origin): A fine mainstream pianist, b. 1938, has over 25 albums since 1971 -- I have Portrait (1989), Just Us (1993), and Art-Work (2009) on my A-list -- in a trio with Seattle stalwarts Jeff Johnson (bass) and John Bishop (drums). One original, six covers, "Airegin" included.B+(*)
Mac Gollehon: La Fama (1980-96 [2012], self-released): Trumpet player, seventh album since 1996, including two with Smokin' in the title and one called In the Spirit of Fats Navarro, but these live cuts predate all that. Big band, no idea how many were playing at any given time, but 35 musicians listed on the back cover, with the Latin tinge provided by congas, timbales, bata drums, bongos, and two guys just credited with "percussion" -- 11 of those 35, or 13 if we count drums and vibes.B+(**)
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires: If I Walked on Water (2011 [2012], Onager): Singer-songwriter, second album, guess you can call him a jazz singer because the band uses an upright bass, Hefko plays tenor sax on the side, and he has a guy who plays trumpet and valve trombone -- otherwise he's not far from Americana, minus the twang, plus a sense of humor.B+(**)
Sylvia Herold and the Rhythm Bugs: The Spider and the Fly (2012, Tuxedo): Herold seems to have started out as a British folk singer, but her path crossed with the Hot Club of San Francisco and through a group called Cats & Jammers, with her latest sounding like an Andrews Sisters tribute. Jennifer Scott and Ed Johnson harmonize, Cary Black and Jason Lewis keep the swing beat humming.B
Hood Smoke: Laid Up in Ordinary (2012, Origin): Group led by bassist Bryan Doherty, who produced, composed, and arranged; has a previous album under his own name, evidently fusion -- press clips compare him to Jaco Pastorius -- whereas this is, well, I don't know, rock I guess, at least rhythmically: guitar, keybs, singer is Sarah Marie Young. Title suffices as a readymade review.C+
Al Jarreau and the Metropole Orkest: Live (2011-12 [2012], Concord Jazz): Vocalist, cut an album in 1965 and many more since 1975; built his jazz credentials on idiosyncrasy, a trap that seems to have consumed his entire generation, plus or minus one, of male jazz singers. Backed here by Vince Mendoza's big band, as sharp as any.B
Christian Lillinger's Grund: Second Reason (2011 [2012], Clean Feed): Drummer, b. 1984 in what was then East Germany. Second album with this group, which expands on Achim Kauffmann's piano trio with a second bassist, two saxes, and vibes. Scratchy, squeaky avant.B+(**)
Karl 2000 (2012, self-released): Avant sax trio: Daniel Rovin (tenor sax), Austin White (bass), Dave Miller (drums). First album. They claim Russian folk music and the Alexandrov Ensemble as inspirations, but you hear more Albert Ayler, which seems more to the point.B+(***)
Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters Quartet: Urban Nightingale (2011 [2012], Origin): Trumpet player from Seattle, also plays in the West African-influenced Kora Band, met the Dutch pianist in Canada in 2009, and this is their second album together. With Piet Verbist on bass and John Bishop on drums. Carefully layered postbop, trumpet is engaging, but won't blow anyone away.B
Musaner: Once Upon a Time (2012, Lucent Music): Boston group, eleven musicians led by pianist Ara Sarkissian, play the leader's compositions and Armenian and Balkan folk tunes with a mix of native (duduk, shvi zurna) and western instruments (an imposing sax section). Second album. Like so much Balkan music, most fun when they pick up the pace and let the clarinet (or whatever) fly free.B+(**)
Myriad 3: Tell (2012, ALMA): Piano trio, with Chris Donnelly (piano), Dan Fortin (bass), and Ernesto Cervini (drums). Donnelly and Cervini have a couple albums each under their own names. All three contribute songs (edge Donnelly, 4-3-3), with one cover, Ellington's "C Jam Blues."B+(**)
Thea Neumann: Lady & the Tramps (2012, self-released): Singer, from Alberta up in Canada -- her guitarist, Clint Pelletier, has a group/album called Hot Club Edmonton -- wrote two songs on her debut, but mostly works old standards (two Cole Porters, "Makin' Whoopee,""Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,""In Walked Bud"), slipping in pieces by Gillian Welch and Thom Yorke. Band is piano-bass-drums, plus Pelletier on four tracks, plus a couple horn spots.B+(**)
Sophisticated Ladies: A True Story (2012, self-released): French quartet. Rachael Magidson seems to be the main vocalist although the others are credited with vocals (with a dangling asterisk), and Magidson also plays flugelhorn and percussion; the others: Emilie Calme (flute, bansuri), Nolwenn Leizour (acoustic bass), Valerie Chane-tef (piano). Standards -- "The Lady Is a Tramp,""Sophisticated Lady,""Autumn Leaves,""You Go to My Head" -- with the two closers in French and a Charlie Parker bit for a segué. Has a fake allure, which I find to be the charm. [Bandcamp]B+(*)
Mort Weiss: I'll Be Seeing You (2012, SMS Jazz): Clarinetist, eighth album since 2006 when as a 60-year-old he returned to the instrument he played in his youth, playing bebop and blues with the grace of swing. With bass and drums and "special guest" Ramon Banda on conga. Not sure if he's the one singing "Gots the Horn in My Mouth Blues," or even whether that should be called singing -- an odd break in the middle of what's otherwise his most accomplished album.A-
The Whammies: Play the Music of Steve Lacy (2012, Driff): Very few avant-gardists have had their compositions recorded by others, much less by tribute bands, but Lacy is well on his way, with two albums by Ideal Bread, and now this inspired sextet: Jorrit Dijkstra (alto sax, lyricon), Jeb Bishop (trombone), Pandelis Karayorgis (piano), Mary Oliver (violin, viola), Nate McBride (bass), and Han Bennink (drums). Seven Lacy tunes cut at odd angles, the growl of the trombone especially appreciated. Then closes with Monk's "Locomotive," much as Lacy would have done. [Bandcamp]A-
Pharez Whitted: For the People (2012, Origin): Trumpet player, b. 1960, studied at DePauw and Indiana; fourth album since 1994, a sextet with Eddie Bayard on tenor/soprano sax, both piano (Ron Perrillo) and guitar (Bobby Broom), bass and drums -- all originals, bright and tough; effectively: post-hardbop.B+(*)
Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:
- David Greenberger/Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound: They Like Me Around Here (Pel Pel): Jan. 15
- Jerry Leake: Cubist: Prominence (Rhombus Publishing): Jan.
- Carolyn Mark: The Queen of Vancouver Island (Mint)
- Chris McNulty: The Song That Sings You Here (Challenge)
- Old Time Musketry: Different Times (Steeplechase)
- Dan Phillips BKK Trio: Bangkok Edge (self-released)
- Sherri Roberts: Lovely Days (Blue House/Pacific Coast Jazz): Jan. 15
- Tim Warfield's Jazzy Christmas (Undaunted Music)
