Jason Anick & Matt DeChamplain – Reverence: A Tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Oscar Peterson

While it might be obvious to consider Django Reinhardt to be Stephane Grappelli’s preferred musical partner, some of Grappelli's most satisfying musical partnerships came outside of the Hot Club du France. His albums with McCoy Tyner are fierce. Paris Encounter, with Gary Burton, is a downright fascinating piece of work. I’m partial to the music he made with David Grisman, and his work with Stephane Grappelli is uniformly excellent, too. Seemingly, violinist Jason Anick and pianist Matt DeChamplain agree, because their album Reverence, is a tribute to the music that Grappelli and Peterson made together. The disc gets off to a rousing start with Lester Young’s “Tickle Toe.” “Noreen’s Nocturne,” an Oscar Peterson composition, is outstanding. My only complaint is that it’s done in three minutes. The rendition of “My Blue Heaven” is a charming toe-tapper that had me smiling in my office chair, and if you forgot that Grappelli was capable of writing quite the barnburner, “Denise” will set you straight, and quick. Reverence is the kind of disc that isn’t just easy to listen to, but it’s also the kind that you want to listen to.  

Nick Finzer – Legacy – A Centennial Celebration of JJ Johnson (Outside In Music)

The centennial birthday for J.J. Johnson happened back in January, and these momentous occasions give us a chance to ruminate on just how powerful and thoughtful a player and composer Johnson really was. On Nick Finzer’s latest, Legacy, we hear the influence that Johnson has had for generations of Jazz musicians, and specifically trombonists. Finzer is one such trombonist, and he’s joined here by pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Lewis Nash. That’s a forceful band, and they do the music here justice. Johnson’s four compositions are the driving “Say When,” the speedy Jazz-Waltz “Shortcake,” the lovely “Lament” and the swinging “Fatback,” are all excellent. The Renee Rosnes ballad “Malaga Moon” is definitely a highlight, and this band most certainly came to play on Finzer’s “That Thing.” Legacy is a fitting tribute to J.J. Johnson, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

Jordan VanHemert – Deep in the Soil (Origin)

When I looked at the lineup for saxophonist Jordan VanHemert’s Deep in the Soil, I mumbled to myself, “Wow…somebody’s got themselves a BAND here!” Terell Stafford plays trumpet, Michael Dease is the trombonist, Helen Sung is sitting at the piano bench, Rodney Whittaker is holding down the bass duties, and Lewis Nash is behind the drums. This sextet lets you know it, too, from the first note. Sharel Cassity’s composition, “Call To Order” gets the festivities off to a proper start. VanHemert contributed “Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same,” a really nice ballad in the middle of the set. Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)” is right in the pocket and played beautifully. “ST in the House” sounds like a lost in the vaults Jazz Messengers tune, and “Blues for JT” wraps up the disc on a funky note. Here’s to hoping Jordan VanHemert’s got more on the way, because Deep in the Soil is just that good. How could it not be with a band like that?