Double Entendre
Artist: Tom Lellis

Tom Lellis decided to call this 1991 release Double Entendre because the CD marked many "doubles." It was his second album, it marked the second time he was backed by bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette, and it found him doubling as a stand-up singer and a sit-down singer/pianist. Lellis provides acoustic piano or electric piano on... Read More

Me and My Shadow
Artist: Michele Hendricks

On her third and final Muse CD as a leader, Michele Hendricks sounds quite individual performing this well-conceived set. She is accompanied by James Williams or David Leonhardt on piano, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, with three numbers being pianoless. The material ranges from "But Beautiful" and "Misty" to the... Read More

Straight Ahead
Artist: Greg Abate

The title perfectly summarizes this quintet date -- hard bop and standards delivered professionally and competently by an experienced band. Greg Abate is a fluid alto and tenor saxophonist who executes the chord changes, progressions, and solos efficiently, while trumpeter Claudio Roditi adds some Afro-Latin spice and hot licks, and pianist... Read More

A Guitar Thing
Artist: Ron Jackson

Guitarist Ron Jackson's debut as a leader is an impressive outing with pianist Benny Green, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Cecil Brooks III. Very much a straight-ahead date, Jackson (who describes himself as a "modern traditionalist") performs standards and originals (of which "On the Edge" is most memorable) with a reasonably original... Read More

Look to the Sky
Artist: Pete Minger

Fluegelhornist Pete Minger had one of his rare chances to lead a record date for this Concord session and he used it to play quiet but spirited bebop in a quartet with pianist John Campbell, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Ben Riley. While Campbell's solos show the influence of Bud Powell and the bass-drums team is quite supportive,... Read More

Finally: Live in Stockholm
Artist: Joe Pass
Take Note!
Artist: Holly Hofmann
Tribute to Benny Goodman: Memories of You
Artist: Terry Gibbs

The first of two discs recorded at a gig at Kimball's East in Emeryville, CA -- the other being Kings of Swing -- the Terry Gibbs/Buddy DeFranco/Herb Ellis sextet appoints itself chief keepers of the Benny Goodman Sextet flame, but not in a slavish way. Rather, the sextet re-interprets the Goodman classics "Flying Home, "Rose Room," "Don't Be... Read More

Hearts of Fire
Artist: New York Voices

As is true of many of their releases, this outing by the New York Voices is very much a mixed bag. The two male and three female singers are accompanied by a rhythm section and perform excellent jazz versions of "Giant Steps" (the set's high point), Stevie Wonder's "Too High," "Stolen Moments" and "Cotton Tail." However, many of the other... Read More

Freddie Freeloader
Artist: Jon Hendricks

This CD would be highly recommended if it were only for Jon Hendricks' brilliant vocalese version of "Freddie Freeloader," twhich has Bobby McFerrin singing pianist Wynton Kelly's part, Al Jarreau as Miles Davis, George Benson as Cannonball Adderley, and Hendricks recreating John Coltrane. However, all 13 selections on the very memorable set... Read More

The Musicals: Jazz on Broadway
Artist: Ranee Lee

Ranee Lee has always been a dramatic jazz singer and on this CD she has the opportunity to sing both jazz and Broadway show tunes. The repertoire alternates between vintage songs and more recent Broadway tunes. Most jazz-oriented are "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," a high point that features Lee backed by just pianist Red Mitchell, and a duet... Read More

Fascinating Jazz
Artist: Jim DeJulio

Jim DeJulio's debut as a leader features his bass in a variety of settings. Although he takes solo space on all of the songs (fortunately DeJulio's ideas are fresh and concise), the constant changes in personnel and instrumentation continually hold one's attention on his bop-based album. Clarinetist Eddie Daniels stars on "Chase, No Straighter,"... Read More