Dwayne Clemons – Center of Gravity: Live at Smalls (Cellar Music)

Trumpeter Dwayne Clemons assembled a great crew for a run at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City. Alto saxophonist Amanda Sedgewick, tenor saxophonist Aaron Johnson, pianist Julian Woo, bassist Paul Gill and drummer Toro Okamoto make up the rest of this swinging band heard live from a date back in September of 2023. At the age of 63, this is Clemons’ second album under his own name, but you’d never know that given the level of maturity, class and swing shown on Center of Gravity. From the first track, “Burgandy” through the last track, “When I Grow Too Old to Dream,” the listener is treated to a solid seventy minutes of good time listening. Amanda Sedgwick’s two compositions,  “Shadow and Act” and “Center of Gravity” are definite highpoints of the album. I hope that Mr. Clemons finds himself recorded more often these days, as we would all do well with a third album in his discography.

Brian Charette – You Don’t Know Jack! (Cellar Music)

Organist Brian Charette has pieced together a tribute to Jack McDuff called You Don’t Know Jack for his latest album, and his first for Cory Weeds’ Cellar Music. Charette is happy to have Weeds along for the ride on the tenor sax, and that’s good news for us listeners, as Weeds makes a good foil for organists (just check out any of his work with Mike LeDonne!). Dave Sikula takes the guitar chair, and John Lee finds himself behind the drums. Shockingly, considering that this is a McDuff tribute, there are only two McDuff songs on here, but they’re both doozies: “The Jolly Black Giant” and “6:30 in the Morning” both get across what made McDuff such a great organist AND bandleader. Charette shows off just how funky he can be on “Why’d You Have to Go and Lie to Me Boy,” and Weeds’ “Have You Met Joan?” is a hard-swingin’ slice of modern day be-bop that’s impossible to deny. All in all, You Don’t Know Jack is a fantastic effort and a great addition to WDCB’s collection! I hope you’ll be enjoying it, too!

Steven Feifke – The Role of the Rhythm Section vol. II (La Reserve)

First things first, man, Steven Feifke is a monster of a piano player. Without a big band or other extraneous instruments to pull the spotlight away, Feifke gets an hour to shine on The Role of the Rhythm Section, vol. II. The intricate runs, the extemporaneous quotes coming out of nowhere, the constant flow of ideas, just wow. Of course, a solo pianist isn’t much of a rhythm section, so, also along for the ride are bassist Dan Chmielinski and drummer Bryan Carter. And the three of these guys play like one giant being with six arms. They’re so in sync that it would be disconcerting if it wasn’t so much fun to listen to. The originals are great. The standards are great (seriously…wait til you hear “Invitation…”). This is one seriously fun record.