Christian McBride, Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb, Cedar Walton – New York Time (2006) [SACD / Chesky Records – SACD314]

Christian McBride, Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb, Cedar Walton - New York Time (2006)

Title: Christian McBride, Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb, Cedar Walton – New York Time (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

“New York Time offers jazz fans a wonderful opportunity to hear two rising stars of the genre (McBride, Jackson) performing with two respected elders (Cobb, Walton). The past also meets the present in other exciting ways on this recording. The set is highlighted by several of Walton’s original compositions and a cover of the legendary John Coltrane’s “Naima”. Meanwhile, McBride’s acoustic bass talents are spotlighted on his self-written composition “Grove” (for trumpeter Roy Hargrove) and Jackson represents the new vanguard of jazz with his own tune titled “Notes in Three”.

Having spent most of his time since the late ’90s re-appropriating pop, funk, rock, and fusion elements into his progressive jazz albums, bassist Christian McBride makes a joyously off the cuff return to straight-ahead acoustic jazz on 2006’s New York Time. Working here with the seasoned rhythm section giants of pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Jimmy Cobb as well as an equally engaging contemporary, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, McBride has crafted a back-to-basics album that, while firmly in the mainstream jazz tradition, works to remind listeners why they dug him in the first place. New York Time is as creatively inspired, forward-thinking, and unexpected as 2000’s Sci-Fi and 2003’s Vertical Vision are with their mix of electronic-funk and angular, postmodern jazz, and McBride can’t escape the fact that his true gift is for swaggering, double-breasted, no holds barred, late-night, straight-ahead modern jazz. Primarily, it’s his big, full, commanding double-bass tone that not only drives his bandmates forward, but buoys them on fat swells of sound. It’s that natural acoustic tone and earthy pulse of McBride that fit so well with this kind of no-fuss jazz. It’s also that sound, paired with the soulfully urbane and elegantly muscular chops of Walton, Cobb, and Jackson, that makes New York Time a jazz lover’s dream.

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2 min read

Cedar Walton Trio – Song Of Delilah (2010) [Japan 2016] [SACD / Venus Records – VHCD-177]

Cedar Walton Trio - Song Of Delilah (2010) [Japan 2016]

Title: Cedar Walton Trio – Song Of Delilah (2010) [Japan 2016]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

During his long career, Cedar Walton has been one of hard bop’s most lyrical pianists. His funky touch and cogent melodic sense graced the recordings of many of jazz’s greatest players. He was also one of the music’s more underrated composers; although he was always a first-rate interpreter of standards, Walton wrote a number of excellent tunes (“Mosaic,” “Ugetsu,” and “Bolivia,” to name a few) that found their way into Art Blakey’s book during the pianist’s early-’60s stint with the Jazz Messengers. On this album, Walton and his musician friends Buster Williams and Willie Jones II, have compiled an album of songs dedicated to the works of American composer Victor Young.

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1 min read