Volume 28 Issue 1 | September 20 - November 8, 2022

The one flute track is dryly balladic and
Sarin’s ruffs and rebounds add advanced
percussiveness elsewhere. But all in all the
harmonic balance expressed among writing,
narratives and singular expression make this
one orbit of sound in which a listener would
want to circle.
Ken Waxman
Red List – music dedicated to the
preservation of our endangered species
Brian Landrus; Various Artists
Palmetto Records PM2023
(brianlandrus.com)
! With the release
of his 11th recording
as a leader, highly
respected multireed
player,
arranger and
composer, Brian
Landrus, has not
only created something
of incredible musical beauty, but is
simultaneously highlighting the looming
global crisis of species extinction. There are
13 compositions here written by Landrus,
representing 13 endangered species on the
Red List that could be lost forever. Landrus is
collaborating with the organization Save the
Elephants and is joined here by half a dozen
horns and a stellar rhythm section.
First up is Canopy of Trees – a percussive
journey through the majesty of an
ancient forest or jungle, made all the more
mystical by Landrus’ complex solo and the
superb arrangement. The title track reflects
chaotic energies and also the brave push back
against obliteration, while Geoffrey Keezer’s
intriguing synth patches elicit ancient sensations…
a connection with Mother Earth. The
ensemble is in complete symmetry, punctuated
by Landrus’ dynamic soloing. Giant
Panda features a well-constructed baritone
solo by Landrus, which effortlessly segues
into Nocturnal Flight, which is defined by
eloquent, elegant guitar work from Nir Felder
and parenthesized by sumptuously arranged
horns as well as a spellbinding piano solo
from Keezer.
Save the Elephants is a standout, and
with an irresistible reggae-ish motif, Felder’s
rhythmic guitar, Keezer’s Hammond B3 and
potent percussion and drumming from John
Hadfield and Rudy Royston as well as wellplaced
vocals, one can almost envision the
beautiful elephants strolling regally through
the African Savanna. Of special beauty is
Only Eight, which begins with a resonant
and complex bass solo from the iconic Lonnie
Plaxico and morphs into a spacious, etheric
expression – a shared vision of a better, more
caring world.
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Qui Qu’en Grogne
Yannick Rieu Généération Quartet
Yari Productions YARICD2022
(dev.yariproductions.com)
! Montreal-based
multi-saxophonist
and composer,
Yannick Rieu, has
long been recognized
as a significant
contender
on the world jazz
stage, evoking (but
not derivative of) greats such as Lee Konitz
with big helpings of Sonny Rollins’ lyricism.
Rieu is joined here by his Génération
Quartet, so named as the group is comprised
of both emerging and established jazz artists:
Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon on piano; Guy
Boisvert on bass and Louis-Vincent Hamel
on drums.
The title track is an archaic, 15th-century
French expression, meaning “I don’t care
what people think about what I’m doing,”
which certainly informs the ethos of creative
freedom, open inter-generational communication
and the fearlessness of Rieu’s eight
original compositions, as well as the fine
musicians performing them. This track is
replete with a spunky call and response and
a contrapuntal, elastic and satisfying melodic
line – a tune in search of a cinema noir film
(in French or English)!
Time is, Life Was is another outstanding
track – a lovely ballad, featuring sumptuous
chord changes and lighter-than-air motifs
from Rieu and Michaud-Gagnon. When the
full rhythm section enters, bassist Boisvert is
front and centre with a pensive and melancholy
solo, rife with emotional content.
Le Philosophe is a gem – stylistically
bi-locating between the very roots of improvisational
jazz and the distant limits of
musical possibilities – and Prétexte demonstrates
a quirky bebopish sense of humour
and delight. Another standout is the stark
and beautiful Pharaon, calling to mind Bill
Evans and an imaginary collaboration that he
might have had with Steve Lacey. The closing
track, Porta di cinese includes a stunner of
a solo by Michaud-Gagnon and synergous
ensemble work.
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Live at the Mezzrow
Sheila Jordan w/Alan Broadbent; Harvie
Cellar Music CMSLF002 (cellarlive.com)
! The new release
from jazz chanteuse
extrordinaire,
Sheila Jordan, was
recorded “LIVE”
at New York City’s
Mezzrow on
October 25, 2021.
The recording is
not only a major triumph for the esteemed
vocal jazz icon, whose career spans over 70
years, but also marks the first release of the
SmallsLIVE Living Masters Series under the
umbrella of Vancouver and NYC-based saxophonist/producer
Cory Weeds’ Cellar Music
Group. Smalls and Mezzrow owner/pianist
Spike Wilner and Weeds serve as executive
producers here, and Jordan’s musical partners
include the brilliant Australian/American
pianist/composer, Alan Broadbent as well
as her longtime collaborator, NYC’s Harvie
S on bass.
Jordan includes unique be-bop-centric
versions of beloved standards from the
likes of Ray Noble, Cole Porter, Rodgers
and Hart and Hoagy Carmichael, as well
as more contemporary tunes from Miles
Davis, Charlie Parker and Shirley Horn. The
common threads of this diverse material are
the gorgeous and challenging melodic lines,
which Jordan has imbued with her own spontaneous
and honest improvisations.
Top tracks include Abbey Lincoln’s Bird
Alone – a moving ballad that Jordan saturates
with meaning and gravitas and Noble’s
The Touch of Your Lips, which captures the
humour of the delightful Jordan, and includes
the rarely performed “verse” which effortlessly
segues into a gently swinging soufflé
of boppish scatting. The Bird & Confirmation
(Horn/Parker) is an inspired medley, and a
true highlight. The passion with which it
is performed is part and parcel of Jordan’s
unique perspective of establishing a lyrical
line that later morphs into an exploration
of time, tones and ‘tudes. Of special note is
Vernon Duke’s immortal Autumn in New
York featuring an exquisite arco solo from
Harvie, Broadbent’s meaningful touch and
the inimitable Jordan crooning a love song to
the exciting, confusing, endlessly creative city
that remains the epicentre of jazz. A triumph!
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
El Tinajon
Luis Deniz; Rafaelo Zaldivar; Roberto
Occhipinti; Amhed Mitchel; Jorge Luis
Papiosco; Adis Rodriguez Galindo
Modica Music (modicamusic.com)
! Since his arrival
from Cuba, saxophonist
and
composer Luis
Deniz has placed
his distinctive
mark on both the
Canadian and international
jazz scenes.
His warm, distinctive and technically skilled
sound on alto and soprano saxophones is
celebrated here with the release of his new
recording – which embraces his emotional
journey from a young Cuban émigré to a
highly respected jazz stalwart. Deniz’s gifted
compadres here include pianist/keyboardist
Rafael Zaldivar, bassist Roberto Occhipinti,
drummer and vocalist Ahmed Mitchel,
vocalist Adis Galindo and percussionist Jose
62 | September 20 - November 8, 2022 thewholenote.com