Eddie Henderson – A Tribute To Lee Morgan (1995 – NYC)

Unlike many of the other recent tribute albums, this program of the music of the late trumpeter Lee Morgan casts his compositions in familiar surroundings not all that different from the original recordings. Trumpeter Eddie Henderson, who was influenced by Morgan but found his own voice, is a good choice for the lead role and his muted outing on the one non-Morgan piece, “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” is a strong feature. Tenorman Joe Lovano, who can sound like Joe Henderson at times and hints at the passion of Coltrane on the date’s most advanced piece “Search for the New Land,” has a strong personality of his own and matches well with Eddie Henderson. The solid rhythm section (pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Billy Higgins) is a major asset while Grover Washington, Jr., makes a pair of guest appearances on soprano and shows once again that he can play swinging soulful jazz; pity that he never seems to play tenor in this type of setting. The eight Lee Morgan songs heard on this album are interpreted in the same basic hard bop style that the trumpeter spent most of his career playing, an idiom that serves as the modern jazz mainstream of today. Highlights include “Sidewinder,” “Ceora,” “Speedball” (which has some heated tradeoffs by the horns) and the infectious “Ca-Lee-So.” 
Scott Yanow

Tracklist:
01.The Lion And The Wolff
02.Sidewinder
03.Ceora
04.Speedball
05.You Don’t Know What Love Is
06.Kozo’s Waltz
07.Yama
08.Ca-Lee-So
09.Search For The New Land

Personnel:
Eddie Henderson (trumpet)
Grover Washington, Jr. (op sax)
Joe Lovano (Tenor Sax)
Cedar Walton (piano);
Peter Washington (Bass)
Billy Higgins (drums).

Release Date:  Apr 24th, 1995 – Label: NYC
Recording information: Sound on Sound, New York, NY (From March, 12th 1994 to , April, 12th 1994)

 Buy at Amazon
Listen for Once, Delete, then Buy:         Download

Christian McBride: Kind of Brown (2009 – Mack Avenue Records)

Bassist/composer Christian McBride is one of the most in-demand sidemen in the music business, having toured and recorded with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Diana Krall and Sting. The Philadelphia-native has also made a name for himself as a daring leader, exploring both acoustic and electronic styles. For Kind of Brown, his premier date for the Detroit-based Mack Avenue Records, McBride introduces his new acoustic jazz quintet Inside Straight, featuring pianist Eric Scott Reed, saxophonist Steve Wilson, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, Jr. and drummer Carl Allen.

The elegant funk of the opening blues, “Brother Mister,” allows Reed, Wilson and Wolf to warm up on a down-home groove set up by McBride and Allen. The breezy mood is then interrupted as McBride rips through the intro to Freddie Hubbard’s up-tempo swinger, “Theme for Kareem.” The ferocious post-bop vibe showcases the quintet’s command of the modern jazz language with unrivaled technique.

Lyricism shines through on “Rainbow Wheel” and “Starbeam,” two of McBride’s more poignant compositions. The gospel vibe of “Used ‘Ta Cha” is a spirited good time with fun, blues-based soloing from all, including a punchy bowed turn from McBride. “The Shade of the Cedar Tree,” which first appeared on McBride’s debut as a leader, Gettin’ To It (Verve, 1995), moves elegantly from swing to Latin with soaring solos from Wolf, Wilson and Reed.

Reed’s vivacious “Pursuit of Peace” has a straight-forward melody on top of an intricate bass line, creating a contrapuntal effect with plenty of soul. McBride’s beautiful waltz tribute to the late pianist James Williams, “Uncle James,” features an impressive melodic turn from Wilson on soprano saxophone. “Stick & Move” is a barn-burner of a blues ripe with juicy blowing. The go-for-broke attitude here is a highlight of the session.

McBride closes the disc with bow in hand on the standard “Where Are You?,” done as a lovely duet with reed; a quiet close to a disc of utmost sophistication and virtuosity.

John Barron (All About Jazz)

Track List:

1. Brother Mister 04:54 

2. Theme For Kareem 07:52 

3. Rainbow Wheel 06:30 

4. Starbeam 06:38 

5. Used Ta Could 06:35 

6. The Shade Of The Cedar Tree 07:50 

7. Pursuit Of Peace 06:06 

8. Uncle James 05:27 

9. Stick & Move 08:07 

10. Where Are You?  04:19

Personnel:

Christian McBride (bass) 

Carl Allen (drums) 

Steve Wilson (alto sax) 

Eric Scott Reed (piano) 

Warren Wolf, Jr. (vibes)

Original Release Date: June 16, 2009  –  Label: Mack Avenue Records 

Buy at Amazon

Download