4 / Clay Jenkins - 4 CD

4 CD music Veteran arranger Gerald Wilson utilized a New York band full of all-stars for this very rewarding and memorable project. Three of the selections ("Dorian," "Ray's Vision at the U," and "Blues for Manhattan") form a suite called "The Diminished Triangle," which is based upon diminished chords and utilizes Wilson's eight-part harmony. Guitarist Russell Malone is showcased on the ballad "Musette," a remake of "Lomelin" pays tribute to a bullfighter in dramatic fashion, and such players as tenor saxophonist Kazumi Washington (an impressive new voice), pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeters Jon Faddis, Jimmy Owens, and Sean Jones, and tenor man Ron Blake are among the many colorful soloists. But it is the enthusiastic arranger/bandleader who takes honors with his consistently inventive writing and (one imagines) enthusiastic conducting. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow Gerald Wilson: Russell Malone (guitar); Steve Wilson, Gary Smulyan, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake , Dustin Cicero, Jerry Dodgian (woodwinds); Eddie Henderson, Frank Green, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Mike Rodriguez (trumpet); Dennis Wilson , Luis Bonilla, Benny Powell, Douglas Purviance (trombone); Renee Rosnes (keyboards); Peter Washington (double bass); Lewis Nash (drums); Gerald Wilson.

4 album for sale Over the dozen years since his debut recording as a leader, Eric Alexander has developed into one of the most important tenor saxophonists of his generation. Joined once again by one of his favorite pianists, Harold Mabern, along with bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Alexander kicks off this studio affair with a gritty hard bop treatment of "Where or When." "It's All in the Game" dates from the early part of the 20th century (written by future Vice President Charles Dawes), yet this is hardly a dated melody, as Alexander gives his best with a lush ballad treatment, while Mabern (who suggested the tune) incorporates subtle hints of gospel into his provocative solo. Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear" is revamped with a delightful brisk setting, while a Latin-flavored arrangement of the R&B hit "Where Is the Love" also transforms it into something new. Alexander's originals are equally enjoyable. "Typhoon 11" mixes a samba flavor with post-bop, with Mabern sounding at times like McCoy Tyner, while the tense blues "Open and Shut" would have been a perfect contribution to the repertoire of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Eric Alexander is a clear winner with It's All in the Game. ~ Ken Dryden Liner Note Author: Ted Panken. Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (07/29/2005). Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Eric Alexander ; Nat Reeves (electric bass); Harold Mabern (piano); Joe Farnsworth (drums). Audio Mixer: Rudy Van Gelder.

4 songs Two years before Flow, Terence Blanchard released Bounce, a departure from anything he had done in his already storied career. It was a seminal album, with the ideas of a musician 20 years his junior, but the skill and command of the jazz great that he had become. As a follow-up, Flow exhibits that no one better balances traditionalism, provincialism and contemporary aesthetics like Blanchard. This is almost immediately evident and highlighted on "Wadagbe," the album's third cut. Blachard's instantly recognizable, clarion-call horn-tone is still there, as is the native New Orleanian's homage to the Nola stomp and mardi gras Indian chants, plus a classically lyrical jazz-head and an end-song coda that singes. Guitarist Lionel Loueke, still in his early 30s at the time, wrote "Wadagbe" and Benny Golson tribute "Benny's Tune." Young drummer Kendrick Scott wrote album-standout "The Source." In fact, Blanchard handles sole writing duties of just one song on the album, "Wandering Wonder," allowing his younger sidemen's voices to shine. It is this young energy that keeps Blanchard and the album's producer, Herbie Hancock, sounding so vibrant and current. Hancock, years into receiving Social Security, turned in the piano solo of the year on "The Source" -- a percussive display so cerebral, violent and dramatic that it almost defies belief. Few of Blanchard's Young Lion peers from the 1980s are still relevant in any fresh way, which makes Flow, together with its predecessor Bounce, such a revelation. Blanchard isn't stuck making 60s tribute albums or recycling the sound of his youth. Instead, he's hooking up with the hip kids, sometimes directing traffic, sometimes going with the Flow. ~ Vincent Thomas Photographer: Nitin Vadukul. Personnel: Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Terence Blanchard (programming); Brice Winston (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, EWI); Derrick Hodge (bass instrument); Howard Drossin (programming); Lionel Loueke (vocals, guitar); Gretchen Parlato (vocals); Herbie Hancock, Aaron Parks (piano); Kendrick Scott (drums). Recording information: Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (12/11/2004-12/14/2004).

4 buy CD music The second album from this all-star San Francisco-based octet, which was formed in 2004 by saxophonist Joshua Redman, features a stellar live set of post-bop that includes the John Coltrane compositions "Naima" and "Moment's Notice," as well as originals like "Scrambled Eggs" and "Development." Featured musicians include the vibes player Bobby Hutcherson and the trumpeter Nicholas Peyton. 2006 album from the All-Star project led by Joshua Redman, with Nicholas Payton , Renee Rosnes …etc , featruing 4 origainl works , plus another four by John Coltrane . Audio Mixer: Jeff Cressman. Liner Note Author: Bob Blumenthal. Recording information: Chicago Symphony Center; Lincoln Center; Skywalker Ranch. Photographer: Jay Blakesberg. Arranger: Gil Goldstein. SF Jazz Collective: Matt Penman (bass instrument); Isaac Smith , Eric Harland, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenón, Nicholas Payton, Renee Rosnes, Bobby Hutcherson. Personnel: Miguel Zenón (flute, alto saxophone); Joshua Redman (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); Isaac Smith (trombone); Renee Rosnes (piano); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Eric Harland (drums).

4 songs A superior arranger, John La Barbera utilized some of the top Los Angeles-based musicians on this big-band date (including his brother, drummer Joe La Barbera), importing his other musical brother, tenor and soprano saxophonist Pat La Barbera from Canada. Along the way one hears one of Woody Shaw's best compositions ("Moontrane"), an organ piece for Bill Cunliffe ("Pythodd Fellows"), the love theme from the film Apache ("My Love And I"), an obscure Duke Ellington number ("Fantaqzm"), the pop tune "Kyrie," Pat La Barbera's "Yours or Mine or Blues," and three originals by the leader. In addition to Pat and Joe La Barbera, key soloists include trumpeters Clay Jenkins and Wayne Bergeron, guitarist Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard on soprano, altoist Kim Richmond, Bob Carr on bass clarinet, trombonist Andy Martin, and Bill Cunliffe on piano and organ. The writing gives each selection forward momentum and the results are never predictable. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow "Fantazm," John La Barbera's follow-up to his 2004 Grammy nominated "On The Wild Side" (JCO 1007), is a collection of standards and originals inspired by something Duke Ellington once said: "a little thing that the theme is taken from...the kind of a dre Author: Duke Ellington. Photographer: James Frank Dean. Arranger: John La Barbera. Personnel: Larry Koonse (guitar); Kim Richmond (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Tom Peterson (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bob Carr (bass clarinet); Bob Shepard, Pat La Barbera (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Wayne Bergeron (trumpet, flugelhorn); Clay Jenkins, Bob O'Donnell, Jr., Dennis Farias (trumpet); Charlie Morillas, Andy Martin, Alexander Iles, Ken Kugler, Bob McChesney (trombone); Bill Cunliffe (piano, organ, keyboards); Joe La Barbera (drums); Scott Breadman (percussion). Recording information: Martinsound Studios (06/07/2005/06/08/2005).

4 album for sale Photographer: Nils Winther. Personnel: Steve LaSpina (bass instrument); Billy Drews, Billy Drewes (saxophone); Dave Ballou (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gary Versace (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Jeff Hirshfield (drums). Recording information: 04/2005.