AprilCadence2013

Papatamus Robert D. Rusch
Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, and A Christmas Waltz, among others.
So it is a seasonal record, and ‘tis the season to be jolly. And if you like
your jazz bright and chrome-y—and chrome-y bright, I should say—
this may be your cup of tea. Curtis sings well, he pushes the meter,
and the band is studio-on, with a fine, fine, fine solos, mostly by Dave
Shipps’ flute and reeds. And while this is champagne holiday stuff,
Curtis is convincing more so than the setting might suggest. Nothing
heavy, but very pleasant. Again, it’s Jason Paul Curtis, Lover’s Holiday.
Now, if you like shiny big bands, there’s really no better right
now than UNT—that’s the University of North Texas—who’s
One O’Clock Lab Band has put out Lab 2012. Here the soloists
are spot-on, and given enough time for more than perfunctory
statements, but the main thing here is this 19-piece band, as a
whole, is light and swinging, and under the direction of Steve West.
I’m a little sheepish about recommending this because I’m somewhat
critical of most of the musical schools, or at least skeptical as to
what they’re turning out, and I think they are a major source for the
forgettable jazz that comes out mostly—the faceless recordings that just
keep flowing out. But, you know, give these guys their due; they’re
good, and this band is certainly together. It’s light and compelling,
but it’s far more interesting than the average perfunctory effort.
More kenton than Basie, but that’s to be expected, and nothing wrong
with that. I like both. Anyway, this is—I guess you might say this is a
spot-on band. It’s Lab 2012, and it’s on the North Texas Jazz label, #1201.
And probably won’t find that in stores, so, again, go to the internet; go to
North Texas State Jazz Lab, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find it that way.
A Tribute to Benny Goodman by the Julian Bliss Septet, with Julian Bliss
on clarinet, Neal Thorton on piano, Jim Hart on vibes, Martin Shaw on
trumpet, Colin Oxley on guitar, Tim Thornton on bass, and Matt Skelton
on drums. On the Signum Classics label, #BD288. Leaves me wondering…
why? B.G. fans, and I know you’re out there, this does nothing at all
except recreate. Has all the right notes, and none of the excitement.
This is just not even equal to the original, and I don’t understand
why anybody would get this, nor why it was put out, but there it is A
Tribute to Benny Goodman by the Julian Bliss Septet, on Sigmun Classics.
You know, I sort of promised myself I would accentuate the positive
on these columns, since I have limited space and just an absolute ton
of records to go through, so to accent the positive, here’s Alex Riel,
Special Quartet Full House, Live at the Jazzhaus Montmarte on Storyville,
#1014276. Mr. Riel, who has been drumming for almost as long as
he’s alive—he was just 70 years old—and has appeared on thousands
of sessions, and I would guess is the first call in Scandinavia, certainly
in Denmark, when you want a drummer, and a good drummer,
30 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013