Jazz Consumer Guide (15):
Surplus

This is the surplus file for Jazz Consumer Guide #15. These are short reviews of records that for one reason or another have been dropped from active consideration while working on this column. These reviews will be published in the blog when the column comes out.

Ralph Alessi & This Against That: Look (2005 [2007], Between the Lines): I hate pulling the plug on this, but it's one high HM I did go back and play again and again, but never managed to get anything written about it. Alessi has repeatedly distinguished himself as a sideman, and that has some relevance here. His leads are as tight and tasteful as his support work, only here they're supposed to stand out front. Complex, difficult postbop -- I can't begin to enumerate the interesting ideas. Only a couple of minor flat spots kept it from the A-list, and in any case it deserves a listen. I'm only kicking it off because I'm not up to it, and I'm getting tired of the pressure. B+(***)

Richie Barshay: Homework (2004-05 [2007], AYVA): Picked this up on the rebound along with Francisco Mela (q.v.). Both guys are drummers who can do a lot of different things, and stuff their debut albums so full of it they wind up feeling like recitals or clinics. I like this one a shade more, but never found much to say about it. He's a talent to keep an eye on. B+(***)

Tony DeSare: Last First Kiss (2006 [2007], Telarc): Slick, handsome, he's my favorite Sinatra wannabe. Young enough he may figure Prince and Carole King were part of Tin Pan Alley. Two good albums down. I'll catch him one of these days. B+(***)

Steve Lacy-Roswell Rudd Quartet: Early and Late (1962-2002 [2007], Cuneiform, 2CD): Previously unreleased work from the 1962 quartet that recorded School Days, an album that much later provided Ken Vandermark with a group name, and from the 1999-2002 reunion that recorded Monk's Dream. Both were major figures in the intervening decades, although Rudd had a rougher time, for a while making ends meet playing nostalgia bands in the Catskills. This only loses out to the space crunch: Francis Davis covered it in the Voice, I wrote it up in Recycled Goods, and it's been sitting a while. A-

Francisco Mela: Melao (2005 [2006], AYVA): I only found out about this Boston-based Cuban drummer after his album won the Village Voice Jazz Poll's debut category. One reason it won was that for a debut album it had a lot of star power: Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Anat Cohen, Lionel Loueke. Getting to it so late I never spent enough time sorting it out -- "an embarrassment of riches," I called it. Haven't touched it in a long time since. B+(***)

Golda Solomon: Word Riffs (2006, JazzJaunts): Spoken word poet with jazz accompaniment. I tracked this down looking for background after I heard her on saxophonist Saco Yasuma's Another Rain, and it's more of what intrigued me in the first place. B+(**)

Abram Wilson: Ride! Ferris Wheel to the Modern Day Delta (2007, Dune): Dune is an English label trying to break a peculiarly English form of Contemporary Jazz -- one based on hip-hop, reggae, maybe some African pop, something far hipper than any American label of similar ambitions would risk. I applaud the idea, but the realization has been more miss than hit thus far. A couple of years back saxophonist Soweto Kinch released a pretty good but deeply flawed album, while trumpeter Abram Wilson dropped a really bad one. Last year they traded places, with Kinch going deeper into hip-hop and getting lost, while Wilson rediscovered his footing in New Orleans. I wrote up Kinch as a dud. Figured I'd soften the blow with this as an HM, but didn't get it done. Sorry about that. B+(**)

Yerba Buena Stompers: Dawn Club Favorites (2001, Stomp Off): The first of five Stomp Off albums I got as background on this fine trad jazz group. Their model is Lou Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band, formed in 1939 at the beginning of the first great trad jazz revival, and largely responsible for it. Watters' played in San Francisco's Dawn Club, and this is what he played: same lineup, same arrangements, better sound (of course). In my review of the new The Yama-Yama Man, I singled out this and the following New Orleans Favorites as the best of the back catalog. Makes sense that if you're doing repertoire, you'd start from the top. A-

Yerba Buena Stompers: Duff Campbell's Revenge (2005, Diamondstack): Beyond from the five studio releases on Stomp Off, John Gill sent me two live sets on Diamondstack. They are scruffier sounding, a bit looser, not as articulate, but this one in particular is pretty good anyway, a nice little digest of their first four studio albums, with some stories thrown in about someone named Duff Campbell, a notable patron of San Francisco's trad jazz scene. B+(***)

Other Drops

Also dropping the following. Don't have anything to add to what was previously said in the prospecting notes (for this or some previous Jazz CG cycle).

• Muhal Richard Abrams: Vision Toward Essence (1998 [2007], Pi) B+(**)
• Tony Adamo: Straight Up Deal (2007, Urban Zone) B
• Dave Allen: Real and Imagined (2007, Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(*)
• Rodrigo Amado/Kent Kessler/Paal Nilssen-Love: Teatro (2004 [2006], European Echoes) B+(**)
• "Killer" Ray Appleton/Melvin Rhyne: Latin Dreams (2004 [2006], Lineage) B+(**)
• Arjun: Pieces (2007, Pheromone) B
• Gregg August Sextet: One Peace (2006 [2007], Iacuessa) B-
• Omer Avital: Arrival (2006 [2007], Fresh Sound World Jazz) B-
• Jay Azzolina: Local Dialect (2007, Garagista) B-
• Baker Hunt Sandstrom Williams: Extraordinary Popular Delusions (2005 [2007], Okka Disk) B+(*)
• Carlos Barretto Trio: Radio Song (2002 [2007], Clean Feed) B+(**)
• Marco Benevento: Live at Tonic (2006 [2007], Ropeadope, 3CD) B+(*)
• Michael Bisio Quartet: Circle This (2006 [2007], CIMP) B+(**)
• Michael Blake Sextet: Amor de Cosmos (2005 [2007], Songlines) B+(*)
• Ruby Braff and the Flying Pizzarellis: C'est Magnifique! (2002 [2007], Arbors) B+(**)
• Ari Brown: Live at the Green Mill (2007, Delmark) B
• The John Brown Quintet featuring Ray Codrington: Merry Christmas, Baby (2006-07 [2007], House of Swing) B+(*)
• The John Brown Quintet: Terms of Art (2007, House of Swing) B+(*)
• Jimmy Bruno: Maplewood Avenue (2007, Affiliated Artists) B+(*)
• David Buchbinder: Odessa/Havana (2006-07 [2007], Tzadik) B+(**)
• Dave Burrell: Momentum (2005 [2006], High Two) B+(***)
• Michael Camacho: Just for You (2003-04 [2007], New Found) B-
• François Carrier/Michel Lambert: Kathmandu (2006 [2007], FMR) B+(**)
• Cyrus Chestnut: Cyrus Plays Elvis (2007, Koch) B+(*)
• Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle (2006 [2007], Delmark) B+(**)
• Cique (2007, Capri) B
• Stanley Clarke: The Toys of Men (2007, Heads Up) B
• Ryan Cohan: One Sky (2007, Motéma) B
• Freddy Cole: Music Maestro Please (2006 [2007], High Note) B+(**)
• Richard Cole: Shade (2000-07 [2007], Origin) B
• Tim Collins: Valcour (2005 [2007], Arabesque) B
• The Cool Season: An Origin Records Holiday Collection, Vol. 2 (2007, Origin) B-
• Chick Corea and Bela Fleck: The Enchantment (2007, Concord) B-
• Jacques Coursil: Clameurs (2006 [2007], Sunnyside) B+(**)
• Eddie Daniels: Homecoming: Live at the Iridium (2006 [2007], IPO, 2CD) B
• Charles Davis: Land of Dreams (2006 [2007], Smalls) B+(**)
• The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band: Cookin' at the Corner, Vol. 2 (2005 [2007], Origin) B+(*)
• Deep Blue Organ Trio: Folk Music (2007, Origin) B
• The Karl Denson Trio: Lunar Orbit (2007, Bobby Ace) B-
• Bob DeVos: Playing for Keeps (2007, Savant) B+(**)
• Dion: Son of Skip James (2007, Verve Forecast) B+(*)
• Double Duo: Crossword Puzzle (2005 [2007], Libra) B+(*)
• Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters: Hope Radio (2007, Stony Plain) B
• Wayne Escoffery: Veneration (2006 [2007], Savant) B+(***)
• Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra: Invitation (2007, Pacific Coast Jazz) B+(**)
• John Ettinger: Kissinger in Space (2006, Ettinger Music) B+(***)
• Alan Ferber Nonet: The Compass (2006 [2007], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
• Joe Fiedler Trio: The Crab (2007, Clean Feed) B+(**)
• Scott Fields Ensemble: Dénoument (1997 [2007], Clean Feed) B+(*)
• Wendy Fopeano: Raining on the Roses (2006 [2007], Outside Shore) B
• Gary Foster/Putter Smith: Perfect Circularity (2006 [2007], AJI) B+(**)
• Jamie Fox: When I Get Home (2006, Rare Cat) B+(*)
• Joe Friedman: Cup O' Joe (2006, NAS Music) B+(*)
• Champian Fulton with David Berger & the Sultans of Swing: Champian (2007, Such Sweet Thunder) B+(*)
• Richard Galliano Quartet: If You Love Me (2006 [2007], CAM Jazz) B+(**)
• Brad Goode: Nature Boy (2006 [2007], Delmark) B+(*)
• Onaje Allan Gumbs: Sack Full of Dreams (2007, 18th & Vine) B
• Tardo Hammer: Look Stop & Listen: The Music of Tadd Dameron (2007, Sharp Nine) B+(*)
• Julie Hardy: The Wish (2006 [2007], World Culture Music) B-
• The Harlem Experiment (2007, Ropeadope) B+(**)
• David Hazeltine: The Inspiration Suite (2007, Sharp Nine) B
• The Skip Heller Trio: Mean Things Happening in This Land (2006, Ropeadope) B
• Marsha Heydt: One Night (2007, Blue Toucan) C+
• His Name Is Alive: Sweet Earth Flower: A Tribute to Marion Brown (2004-07, High Two) B
• John Hollenbeck & Jazz Bigband Graz: Joys & Desires (2004 [2006], Intuition) B+(***)
• Charlie Hunter and Bobby Previte as Groundtruther + Special Guest John Medeski: Altitude (2006 [2007], Thirsty Ear, 2CD) B
• Todd Isler: Soul Drums (2006-07 [2007], Takadimi Tunes) B+(**)
• Jentsch Group Large: Brooklyn Suite (2005 [2007], Fleur de Son) B+(*)
• Ellen Johnson: These Days (2005 [2006], Vocal Visions) B+(**)
• Sean Jones: Roots (2006, Mack Avenue) B
• Sean Jones: Kaleidoscope (2007, Mack Avenue) C+
• Manu Katché: Playground (2007, ECM) B+(*)
• Bernie Kenerson: Just You & Me (2007, Bernup) B
• Carla Kihlstedt/Satoko Fujii: Minamo (2002-05 [2007], Henceforth) B+(**)
• Meinrad Kneer/Albert van Veenendaal: The Munderkingen Sessions: Part 1 (2004 [2007], Evil Rabbit) B+(*)
• Jonathan Kreisberg: The South of Everywhere (2007, Mel Bay) B+(*)
• Jon Larsen: Strange News From Mars (2007, Zonic Entertainment) B+(*)
• The Soul & Jazz of Timo Lassy (2007, Ricky Tick) B
• Alison Faith Levy & Mushroom: Yesterday, I Saw You Kissing Tiny Flowers (2002-05 [2007], 4Zero) B+(**)
• Amy London: When I Look in Your Eyes (2005 [2007], Motéma) B+(**)
• Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: LAGQ Brazil (2007, Telarc) B
• Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble: Expectation (2007, Kind of Blue, CD+DVD) B+(**)
• Tony Malaby: Tamarindo (2007, Clean Feed) B+(**)
• Harry Manx/Kevin Breit: In Good We Trust (2007, Stony Plain) B+(*)
• Roger Mas 5tet: Mason (2006 [2007], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(*)
• Barney McClure Trio: Spot (2006 [2007], OA2) B+(**)
• Bill McHenry: Roses (2006 [2007], Sunnyside) B+(**)
• John McLean: Better Angels (2004 [2007], Origin) B
• Roscoe Mitchell/The Transatlantic Art Ensemble: Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2, and 3 (2004 [2007], ECM) B+(**)
• Jane Monheit: Surrender (2007, Concord) B-
• Térez Montcalm: Voodoo (2005 [2006], Marquis) B+(**)
• Mörglbl: Grötesk (1999-2006 [2007], The Laser's Edge) B+(*)
• Mr. Groove: Little Things (2007, DiamonDisc) B-
• Mushroom With Eddie Gale: Joint Happening (2007, Hyena) B+(**)
• Steve Nelson: Sound Effect (2007, High Note) B+(**)
• Alípio C Neto Quartet: The Perfume Comes Before the Flower (2006 [2007], Clean Feed) B+(*)
• New York Voices: A Day Like This (2007, MCG Jazz) C-
• Normal Love: 2007 (2007, High Two) B
• Vince Norman/Joe McCarthy Big Band: Words Cannot Express (2005-06 [2007], OA2) B
• Arturo O'Farrill: Wonderful Discovery (2007, MEII) B+(*)
• Alan Pasqua: The Antisocial Club (2007, Cryptogramophpne) B+(*)
• Ben Paterson Trio: Breathing Space (2007, OA2) B+(**)
• Sacha Perry: Not Brand X (2006 [2007], Smalls) B+(*)
• Houston Person: Thinking of You (2007, High Note) B+(**)
• Leslie Pintchik: Quartets (2007, Ambient) B+(**)
• The Pizzarelli Boys: Sunday at Pete's (2007, Challenge) B+(*)
• Michel Portal: Birdwatcher (2006 [2007], Sunnyside) B+(**)
• Quartet San Francisco: Whirled Chamber Music (2007, Violin Jazz) B+(*)
• Kim Richmond Ensemble: Live at Café Metropol (2006-07 [2007], Origin) B+(**)
• Claire Ritter: Waltzing the Splendor (2006 [2007], Zoning) B+(**)
• Herb Robertson NY Downtown Allstars: Real Aberration (2006 [2007], Clean Feed, 2CD) B
• David Rogers Sextet: The World Is Not Your Home (2007, Jumbie) B+(*)
• Louise Rogers: Come Ready and See Me (2007 [2008], Rilo) B+(*)
• Doug Beavers Rovira Jazz Orchestra: Jazz, Baby! (2006 [2007], Origin) B+(**)
• Antonio Sanchez: Migration (2007, CAM Jazz) B+(**)
• Poncho Sanchez: Raise Your Hand (2007, Concord Picante) B
• The Adam Shulman Quartet: On Second Thought (2007, Kabocha) B
• Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits: In Case You Missed It (2006 [2007], Jazzheads) B+(*)
• Daniel Smith: The Swingin' Bassoon (2004 [2007], Zah Zah) B-
• Jim Snidero: Tippin' (2007, Savant) B+(**)
• Solar Fire Trio: Rise Up (2006 [2007], Foreign Frequency) B
• John Stein: Green Street (1996-98 [2007], Whaling City Sound) B+(**)
• Curtis Stigers: Real Emotional (2007, Concord) B+(*)
• The Stryker/Slagle Band: Latest Outlook (2006 [2007], Zoho) B+(***)
• Jacky Terrasson: Mirror (2006 [2007], Blue Note) B
• Dave Tofani Quartet: Nights at the Inn (2007, SoloWinds) B+(*)
• Tyft: Meg Nem Sa (2005 [2006], Skirl) B+(**)
• Gebhard Ullman: New Basement Research (2005-06 [2007], Soul Note) B+(*)
• Upper Left Trio: Three (2007, Origin) B+(*)
• Albert van Veenendaal/Fabrizio Puglisi: Duets for Prepared, Unprepared and Toy Pianos (2004 [2007], Evil Rabbit) B+(**)
• Christian Wallumrød Ensemble: The Zoo Is Far (2006 [2007], ECM) B+(*)
• Eberhard Weber: Stages of a Long Journey (2005 [2007], ECM) B+(*)
• Mark Weinstein: Con Alma (2007, Jazzheads) B
• Ezra Weiss: Get Happy (2006 [2007], Roark) B
• Harry Whitaker: Thoughts (Past and Present) (2007, Smalls) B+(*)
• Howard Wiley: The Angola Project (2006 [2007], CDBaby) B
• Robert Wyatt: Comicopera (2007, Domino) B+(**)
• Yerba Buena Stompers: New Orleans Favorites (2002, Stomp Off) A-
• Yerba Buena Stompers: Barbary Coast Favorites (2001 [2002], Stomp Off) B+(**)
• Yerba Buena Stompers: San Francisco Bay Blues (2005, Stomp Off) B+(***)

Finally, the following appeared (or soon will) in Recycled Goods:

• Albert Ayler: The Hilversum Session (1964 [2007], ESP-Disk) A-
• Patricia Barber: The Premonition Years 1994-2002 (1994-2002 [2007], Premonition, 3CD) B+(***)
• Count Basie: Basie at Birdland (1961 [2007], Roulette Jazz) A-
• Sathima Bea Benjamin: A Morning in Paris (1963 [2007], Ekapa) B+(*)
• Andy Bey: Ain't Necessarily So (1997 [2007], 12th Street) B+(**)
• Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown: Bogalusa Boogie Man (1975 [2007], Sunnyside) B-
• Paul Chambers: Bass on Top (1957 [2007], Blue Note) B
• Choro Ensemble: Nosso Tempo (2007, Anzic) B+(*)
• Gil Coggins: Better Late Than Never (2001-02 [2007], Smalls) B+(*)
• Miles Davis: Evolution of the Groove (1959-72 [2007], Columbia/Legacy) B-
• Walter Davis Jr.: Davis Cup (1959 [2007], Blue Note) B
• Lou Donaldson: Gravy Train (1961 [2007], Blue Note) A-
• Ella Fitzgerald: Love Letters From Ella (1973-83 [2007], Concord) B
• Funky Pieces of Silver: The Horace Silver Songbook (The Composer Collection Volume 1) (1997-2005 [2007], High Note) B+(*)
• Grant Green: The Latin Bit (1961 [2007], Blue Note) B
• Billie Holiday: Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles (1935-42 [2007], Columbia/Legacy, 4CD) A+
• Thad Jones: The Magnificent Thad Jones (1956 [2007], Blue Note) A-
• The Very Best of Diana Krall (1995-2006 [2007], Verve) B+(**)
• Steve Kuhn/Steve Swallow: Two by Two (1995 [2007], Owl/Sunnyside) B+(*)
• Sinikka Langeland: Starflowers (2006 [2007], ECM) B+(*)
• Bennie Maupin: The Jewel and the Lotus (1974 [2007], ECM) B
• Memphis Slim: Boogie Woogie (1971 [2007], Sunnyside) A-
• Memphis Slim & Roosevelt Sykes: Double-Barreled Boogie (1970 [2007], Sunnyside) B+(*)
• Lee Morgan: Indeed! (1956 [2007], Blue Note) B+(***)
• Lee Morgan: Volume 2: Sextet (1956 [2007], Blue Note) B+(***)
• Lee Morgan: Volume 3 (1957 [2007], Blue Note) B+(**)
• Lee Morgan: Candy (1957 [2007], Blue Note) A-
• Sunny Murray (1966 [2007], ESP-Disk) B
• The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam: Go Between (1986 [2007], Summerfold) B+(***)
• Bud Powell: Live at the Blue Note Café, Paris 1961 (1961 [2007], ESP-Disk) B+(**)
• Putumayo Presents: New Orleans Brass (1989-2006 [2007], Putumayo World Music) B
• Ike Quebec: Bossa Nova Soul Samba (1962 [2007], Blue Note) B+(**)
• Dewey Redman Quartet: The Struggle Continues (1982 [2007], ECM) B+(*)
• Frank Rosolino/Carl Fontana: Trombone Heaven (1978 [2007], Uptown) B+(**)
• Joe Satriani: Surfing With the Alien (Legacy Edition) (1986-88 [2007], Epic/Legacy, CD+DVD) B-
• Linda Sharrock/Eric Watson: Listen to the Night (1994 [2007], Owl/Sunnyside) B+(**)
• Frank Sinatra: A Voice in Time (1939-1952) ([2007], Columbia/RCA Victor/Legacy, 4CD) B+(*)
• Gino Sitson: Bamisphere (2007, 18th & Vine) B
• Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan: Live at MCG (1993 [2007], MCG Jazz) B+(***)
• John Taylor: Angel of the Presence (2004 [2006], CAM Jazz) B+(***)
• Baby Face Willette: Face to Face (1961 [2007], Blue Note) B+(***)
• Pablo Ziegler-Quique Sinesi: Buenos Aires Report (2006 [2007], Zoho) B+(*)