Chris Greene Quartet – Conversance (Pravda Records)

The Chris Greene Quartet is back with a new studio album, Conversance. The lineup has stayed the same forever, which is always a plus…these guys have a sound and a vibe that is unmistakable. Chris plays tenor and soprano saxophones, Damian Espinosa plays keys, Marc Piane is the bassist, and Steve Corley is the drummer. And, it should be noted, Corley is the newest member of the band, and he’s been on the drum throne for well over a decade. As is the case with many a Chris Greene album, Greene, Piane and Espinosa all share in the writing duties. “Gentlemen’s Breakfast” is the newest in a long line of slick sambas with a twist that Greene has written, and this one is just as hummable and, in the pocket, as previous ventures into this arena. “The Emperor Strikes Back” might very well be a callback to his previous effort “Future Emperor of Evanston,” or it might allude to his love of the Star Wars franchise. Or both. Either way, this one’s got a distinct Joshua Redman influence in both the writing and playing. “Thumper” is one of two Marc Piane gems on Conversance. It swings with authority, and Greene and Espinosa both play with a refreshing sense of freedom and abandon that is cool to witness. Among the music written by other folks, we get a really nice recording of Eddie Harris’ “Boogie Woogie Bossa Nova,” Duke Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me,” and an interesting reimagination of “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and Curtis Mayfield’s (Give Me Your Love).” That one is just a ton of fun. Greene’s been taking some big steps forward with each of his past few releases, and Conversance might very well be his best effort yet.  

Sarah Hanahan – Among Giants (Blue Engine)

Saxophonist Sarah Hanahan assembled a monster of a band for her debut album, Among Giants. She’s not kidding. Hanahan is flanked by pianist Marc Cary, bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and on three songs, the legendary Bobby Allende on percussion. Showing off a deep reverence for John Coltrane, a song like “A House is Note a Home” really comes alive. “Honey” and “Stardust” are both lovely ballads, and “Stardust" gets a meditative reading that takes the listener on a beautiful journey. Hanahan swings nicely on Ferde Grofe’s “On the Trail,” and the set ender, “We Bop!” is a jammin’ way to wrap up the festivities on Among Giants. This is a brilliant introduction to a young artist, and I hope just the first in a long line of excellent albums from Ms Hanahan.

Antonio Farao – Tributes (Criss Cross)

Italian pianist Antonio Farao might not be well known on American shores, but he’s certainly recorded a ton both as a leader and a sideman throughout Europe. On his debut Criss Cross release, he’s paired up with a jaw dropping rhythm section, with John Patitucci (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums). The resultant Tribute, started off as an homage to Chick Corea, and grew from there. To these ears, there’s a tip of the cap to Keith Jarrett on “Tender” and more overt tributes to McCoy Tyner (“MT”), Wayne Shorter (“Song for Shorter”) and Herbie Hancock (“Shock”). The inclusion of Chick Corea’s “Matrix” to finish the album on an appropriate note. Farao plays some mean piano throughout this disc, and I’m loving what I’m hearing here. Hopefully, you‘ll love it, too.