Judith Owen: Swings Christmas (Twanky Records)
Welsh born, New Orleans-based chanteuse Judith Owen has just released her 15th album. Backed by her 17-piece J.O. Big Band, she delivers a diverse and upbeat collection of Christmas songs of the swinging, secular sort. If you’re after traditional Christmas carols don’t look here.
Jazz versions of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (initially sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me In St. Louis) and Steve Allen’s Cool Yule (introduced by Louis Armstrong and covered later by Bette Middler) rub shoulders with rock and roll numbers such as Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run.For the J.O. Big Band with J.O. in action, try the album’s opener No Better Time.
Swings Christmas comes with the added bonus of the complete Winter Wonderland album released last year with her Gentlemen Callers – Kevin Louis (c), Ricardo Pascale (ts), (David Torkanowsky (p), David Blenkhorn (g), Lex Warshawsky (b) and Herlin Riley/Jason Marsalis (d). For a taste, check out the tongue-in-cheek Santa Baby (originally released by Eartha Kitt in 1953) or Clarence Carter’s earthy Back Door Santa.
As always Judith Owen is on top form and her musicians are first class. Further details can be found on her website here.
Gordon Wellard Septet: The Language Of Jazz (Victoria Records 002)
UK drummer Gordon Wellard formed a sextet in 1998 to play the music of American trumpeter Don Sickler. American altoist Bob Martin, who’d played with Buddy Rich, was in the lineup, as was a 21-year-old Steve Fishwick on trumpet.
In 1999 the sextet became a septet and recorded The Language Of Jazz on CD with Ed Jones taking over the tenor chair. Very much in the hard-bop vein of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the band delivers nine numbers composed by the likes of Brian Lynch, Geoffrey Keezer and James Williams. For the last track, Jim Mullen is guest guitarist on Hank Mobley’s Infra-Rae.
The CD has just been reissued in tribute to Bob Martin (1948-2023) and can be purchased for £12 at Gordon Wellard’s gigs or from him post-free via gordonwellard@gmail.com.
Snorre Kirk: What A Day! (Stunt Records STUCD24032)
It’s always a pleasure to review a release from Snorre Kirk. This is the eighth from the Norwegian jazz drummer, composer and band leader. It follows Blues Modernism (2012), Europa (2015), Drummer & Composer (2017), Beat (2018), Tangerine Rhapsody (2019), Going Up (2020) and Top Dog (2021).
The new album unveils a changed lineup to accompany the drummer. It comprises London-based, Italian-American multi-reedist Giacomo Smith, versatile Welsh pianist Joe Webb (also based in London) and Danish double bassist Anders Fjeldstad. The latter played on Kirk’s last three recordings. Smith, inspired by Ellington, the swing era and jazz manouche founded the acclaimed UK band Kansas Smitty’s in which Webb (who leads his own trio, Webb City) was the pianist.
Kirk’s quartet is augmented in three of the numbers – Palagio Shout, Honey and Blues Beat – by Kiwi-born, London-based Alexander Honey Boulton on rhythm guitar. To get the measure of the band’s music you can check out Honey here and Blues Beat here.
All eight tracks on the album are originals composed by Kirk. The arrangements are bright, melodic and sound like authentic swing creations from the past yet possess a fresh and present-day feel. Kirk as always is relaxed and unostentatious on drums and each band member is at the top of their game. Superb.
Kim Cypher: Catching Moments (Mean Reedz Records)
Saxophonist and singer Kim Cypher has just released her third album. Ten of the 12 numbers are originals penned by her. She started to write them four years ago and when the pandemic intervened her compositions began to reflect that life is short and should be treasured – hence the title.
Cypher blends assorted musical genres including swing, funk and Latin jazz and uses varying combinations, from duo to dectet, to deliver. The fluctuating lineups include Jonny Bruce and Alan Bateman (t), Ian Bateman (tb), Chris Cobbson (g), George Cooper, Anders Olinde, Tom Berge (p) and Karl Vanden Bossche (pc). Raph Mizraki (b) and husband Mike Cypher (d) are constant throughout. Guests Liane Carroll, Ashley Slater, Ray Gelato and Antonio Forcione play a major role in several of the numbers.
At times, Cypher’s music is sad and pensive while at others it’s bright and glitzy – for a sample of the latter end of the spectrum try her catchy composition Uniquely The Same. Whatever the mood, Cypher is clearly a talented saxist, singer and songwriter. She’s also arranged all the music herself. Catching Moments comes with a 28-page booklet and the track list can be found on her bandcamp page.
Gordon Beck’s Gyroscope: Progress (Jazz In Britain JIB 12SCD)
Gordon Beck, pianist with Tubby Hayes, Phil Woods, Annie Ross, Helen Merrill, Nucleus and many others, formed Gyroscope in 1973. He named the band after his earlier album titled Gyroscope, recorded in 1968 with bassist Jeff Clyne and drummer Tony Oxley.
Gyroscope lasted until 1975. This triple-CD set provides a musical history of its evolution – hence the title, Progress. The quintet’s only recording – One, Two, Three…Go! – was issued on cassette tape and it’s here on CD for the first time. With Beck on piano or electric piano are Brian Smith on saxes, Stan Sulzmann who replaced him, Frank Ricotti on vibes and percussion, Ron Mathewson on bass and Tony Levin on drums.
The CDs contain recordings of radio broadcasts, rehearsals and live sessions from 1973-1974 retrieved from the tape archives of Beck and Ron Mathewson. The music ranges between straightahead jazz with some rock and some Latin jazz sounds to free improvisation. According to Beck his aim was to combine the already established structures of jazz with an attempt to cross the barrier and greet people who were into unstructured playing. Spoiler alert – there’s a lot of the latter on these discs plus copious Fender electric piano and vibes.
The CDs are housed in a smart eight-panel digisleeve with an informative 24-page booklet containing photos, articles and reviews of the band. Also mementos from Beck’s personal archives and interesting contributions from Brian Smith, Stan Sulzmann, John Thurlow and Simon Spillett. The full track list and album details are here.
2024 favourites
Owen Broder: Hodges – Front And Center Vol. 2 (Outside in Music OIM 2402). New York saxophonist and his tiptop quintet pay homage to Johnny Hodges with numbers from his small-group sessions of the 1950s. Broder’s splendid arrangements maintain the essence of the originals while injecting contemporary verve.
Snorre Kirk: What A Day! (Stunt Records STUCD24032). Norwegian drummer introduces Giacomo Smith (as, ss) and Joe Webb (p) to his quartet alongside Anders Fjeldstad (b). Kirk’s bright, melodic compositions sound as if they were created in the swing era yet they’re crisp and fresh with a modern sparkle. Superb.