Savant SCD 2044 Arthur Blythe Focus $13.00 Order

It is a difficult tightrope to walk when producing art that is 'of the moment' yet acknowledges its past. Only a certain type of artist can concoct the perfect blend -- modern, yet non-alienating, traditional yet not anachronistic. Such an artist is Arthur Blythe, who JAZZTIMES Magazine called, "the magic figure of reconciliation, the force for consensus, that modern jazz has been looking for in vain since the death of John Coltrane in 1967." Arthur has put together an ensemble, unusual in its instrumentation, unique in its tone color. Gust William Tsilis on concert grand marimba in place of piano, and Bob Stewart's tuba in place of the more usual string bass together with Arthur's biting alto sax and Cecil Brooks III's propulsive drumming all contribute to a recording which will certainly place Arthur Blythe firmly in the epicenter of modern jazz. w/ Gust William Tsilis - marimba; Bob Stewart - tuba; Cecil Brooks III - drums Tracks: Opus 1; Children's Song; C.C. Rider; My Son Ra; Hip Toe; Night Song; Once Again; Bubbles; Stuffy Turkey; Night Creeper; In a Sentimental Mood; Focus Opus 1 Night Song Stuffy Turkey Night Creeper

Savant SCD 2039 Cecil Brooks III Live At Sweet Basil Vol. 2 $13.00 Order

Cecil Brooks III's time has come. On the strength of his three records for Savant, two of which were recorded in the heat of live performance, he is to be admitted into the exclusive drummer/leader/composer club whose members include Art Blakey, Max Roach, Shelley Manne and Tony Williams. As a follow-up to the immensely popular "Live at Sweet Basil - Volume One" (SCD 2034) Cecil has selected another set of tunes from those memorable nights at the lamented New York jazz Mecca, Sweet Basil. With tenor sax man Don Braden and trumpeter Riley Mullins, the band rips and roars through eight charts while a live audience spurs them on, registering their approval at every one of the many bursts of inspiration. w/Don Braden - tenor sax; Riley Mullins - trumpet; John Hicks - piano; Dwayne Dolphin - bass Tracks: Swamp Run; Sweet Summer Breeze; Dreamy; The Voice of the Saxophone; Spontaneous Percussion; Prelude to Yvette - Yvette; Hill District Swamp Run The Voice of the Saxophone Yvette Hill District

Savant SCD 2046 Papa John DeFrancesco Jumpin' $13.00 Order

By now most organ aficionados know very well where B-3 burner Joey DeFrancesco got his undeniably soulful quality from. It's strictly in the genes and flowing through the bloodlines of the DeFrancesco family. The deep blue statements inherent in his playing come directly from Papa John, the proud patriarch of the DeFrancesco family. "We were just going for some grooves and having a fun time with it," says the elder DeFrancesco about his fifth cd (including HighNote's Hip Cake Walk HCD 7071 and also a co-led session with Joey, All In The Family HCD 7021). That loose, good-spirited attitude permeates all eights tracks on this recipe for soul jazz cooked up by Papa John and his crew, which includes oldest son Johnny on guitar. with Jacques Johnson, Johnny DeFrancesco, Glenn Ferracone, Marlon Simon Tracks: Jumpin', 24/7, GF's Attitude, Latin Groove Duce, J.E. for You, You Are So Beautiful, Minor Chant, China  Jumpin'  Latin Groove Deuce  Minor Chant

Savant SCD 2041 Bill Heid Da Girl $13.00 Order

Bill Heid has come along again with a much-needed dose of the real thing right on the heels of a New York Times article extolling the 'rebirth' of the B-3. Emerging from the Don Patterson/Larry Young school of playing, Bill has succeeded in developing a totally unique sound for the Hammond, successfully transposing the hard-bop licks, once thought the exclusive property horn players to the organ. There's hope, passion and harsh reality in Bill Heid's music. That's because it comes from the true source and contains no artificial ingredients. with Scott "E Dog" Petersen, Joe Magnarelli, Randy Gelespie Tracks: Soldiering On, Da Girl, Peach Cobbler, Sneaky Waltz, Blues for Margie, Good Clean Fun, Spirit of Newark, Eatin' and Boppin'  Soldiering On  Da Girl  Peach Cobbler

Savant SCD 2028 Irene Reid One Monkey Don't Stop No Show $13.00 Order

It takes a vocalist full of passion and power to front a B-3 ensemble. Irene Reid is just such a vocalist. Called "The Queen of Uptown Jazz" Irene has been doing her thing for some time - "I've found my groove" as she likes to say. This, Irene's fourth CD for Savant displays the depth of her passion perhaps better than any other. Of course, the Reid-type classic, street-smart and world-wise tunes are here - "I Took the Backdoor Out," "Ain't Nobody Sleepin' in My Bed" and the title tune. But also included are such intensely personal numbers such as "I've Gotta Be Me" and "The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" showing that Irene Reid is truly a musical gem of many brightly-shining facets. With Eric Alexander and James Rotondi leading the frontline and the hip B-3 voicings of Bobby Forrester laying the foundation, this recording will no doubt appeal to Irene's legion of fans, both uptown and down! w/ Eric Alexander - tenor sax; James Rotondi - trumpet; Bobby Forrester - organ; Randy Johnston - guitar; Joe Farnsworth & Chip White - drums Tracks: I'm Gettin' Tired; Things We Said Today; Ain't Nobody Sleepin' in My Bed; One Monkey Don't Stop No Show; I've Gotta Be Me; You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me; I Took the Backdoor Out; If the World Should End Tomorrow; Time's Getting Tougher Than Tough I'm Gettin' Tired One Monkey Don't Stop No Show I Took the Backdoor Out Time's Gettin' Tougher Than Tough

Savant SCD 2043 Norman Simmons Synthesis $13.00 Order

Norman Simmons has laid down changes for some of the most illustrious names in jazz - Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Ernestine Anderson, Carmen McRae, Teri Thornton, Joe Williams, Johnny Griffin and others. One of the finest pianists on the scene today, Norman is joined by saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Henry Johnson, bassist Lisle Atkinson and others for this, his second Savant release. Acting as pianist, arranger and leader, Norman has selected an interesting program of originals, jazz standards and well-known tunes, sometimes dressed up in a new, completely original setting (reference Lennon/McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby"). See what made Norman Simmons the pianist of choice for so many jazz greats. w/ Eric Alexander - tenor sax; Henry Johnson - guitar; Lisle Atkinson - bass; Paul Wells - drums; Kevin Jones - percussion Tracks: Georgia's in Town; Here There and Everywhere; Eleanor Rigby; Winter's Gone; Lush Life; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Something to Live For; Ramira the Dancer; No More; You're My Thrill Georgia's In Town Eleanor Rigby Winter's Gone Lush Life