Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-

Album:  The Ways In
Artist:  James Zollar
Label:  Label: JZAZ Records
Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar
https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar
https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar

A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments.

The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trombone and Stefano Doglioni's bass clarinet, as the percolating notes of David Hazeltine's Fender Rhodes sprinkle the track in a frothy rustle.

"The Single Petal of a Rose" features vocalist Nabuko Kiryu whose resonating tone has an elevating quality, as Riza Printup's harp strings shroud the melody in shimmery gossamer.  Kiryu returns on "Blue Silver," joining in the swinging romp and moving between a scatting phrasing and a honeyed vocalese.  The candlelight ambience of "Checkered Hat" is kindled by Zollar's sultry textured flugelhorn, musing with a soft quivering sensuality harnessed by an amorous glint.

Presently playing with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, James Zollar does not merely preserve the straight-ahead jazz standard started by the likes of Clark Terry and Roy Eldridge but he continues its journey, making it relevant to future generations of musicians and listeners.  Zollar's music shows images of his influencers, his mentors, and his peers along with his own ideas and melodic sensibilities.  His recording is a straight-ahead jazz body of work that resounds a timeless appeal.

Musicians:
James Zollar - trumpet and flugelhorn
Michael Rorby - trombone
Stefano Doglioni - bass clarinet
Nabuko Kiryu - vocals
David Hazeltine - piano and Fender Rhodes
Gerald Cannon - bass
Willie Jones III - drums

Special Guests:
Jeremy Pelt - trumpet
Jennifer Vincent - cello and bass
Riza Printup - harp
Chembo Corniel - conga and percussion
Patience Higgins - tenor saxophone

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: This Could Be The Start from Linda Purl

-
Image
Album: This Could Be The Start Artist:  Linda Purl Label: Reaching Records Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com Vocalist Linda Purl and her music director Tedd Firth come together for their fourth album, This Could Be the Start .  The collection contains Purl's reimagination of a handful of jazz standards, tailored to her vocal specifications.  Supported by an intimate cadre of musicians that include bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchica and reed player Nelson Rangell, Purl finesses a selection of Great American Songbook jewels with a contemporary sheen. The playful merengue rhythm driving "Blue Moon," a swinging romp written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is trussed in Ray Marchica's percolating percussion and a profusion of jutting keys performed by Ted Firth.  The track steps out of the customary schematics of swing jazz bolstered by blues vocals and articulates a Latin-imbued tremor.  The bossa nova curves shaping one of Cole Porter's signature pieces,
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr
Read more