Justin V

I thought it'd be interesting to discuss albums where the sidemen are bigger names the leader. It'd be an interesting way to dive deeper into the discographies of musicians we are familiar with while discovering others we may not know. I'll start with: Peter Tomlinson - Momentum: I've played this album a ton since I bought it a few months ago. It has a core rhythm section of Anthony Cox and Jimmy Cobb, with Dick Oatts and Dave Douglas appearing on three songs and guitarist Richie Hart appearing on two others. Two other tracks feature bassist Lou Pappas and drummer Peter O'Brien, with percussionist Lou Varuzzo, Jr. appearing on one of those tracks. Tomlinson, who studied with Barry Harris, Mulgrew Miller and Warren Bernhardt, has co-led one other recording with guitarist Peter Einhorn and has appeared on a few other recordings, but this is his only date as the sole leader. 6 of the 8 songs here are originals and the arrangements throughout are thoughtful. It is an impressive debut by a musician whose skills as a pianist, composer and arranger should have been documented more in the subsequent years.

Bobby Timmons - Got to Get It!, from the Quartets and Orchestra compilation.

The Wuhan virus? *sigh*

I bet that is a good one. I like their trio disc, Calypso's Smile.

It still stings that I missed my chance to see Mulgrew Miller perform. Although there was one song omitted from this compilation due to time constraints, it is unfortunate that they didn't restore it to the download version.

Russell Malone - Black Butterfly

Thanks.

A coworker my wife works closely with has tested positive. My wife spent a lot of time with her during the incubation period. We are all healthy so far. Here's hoping that no one else got infected.

Curt Berg - At Stagg Street Studio: I wasn't familiar with any of the musicians involved, but this is a great quintet date on Origin. The drummer, Bill Berg, was on Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and his unpredictable drumming adds a lot to this album . I don't know if the leader is any relation, but he wrote some excellent tunes and arrangements. It's an album that manages to be melodic and yet still modern with an edge.

Nice! Off the top of my head, I don't think I have an album of Billy Higgins with organ. I'll be picking this one up.

I'm in no hurry to return to in-person shopping. Between Bandcamp and deals on Amazon, eBay and Discogs, I'm scratching my itch. I've also been diving deeper into my collection.

I'm listening to the show they posted today, which is the Russell Malone Quartet with Robert Glasper(!), Richie Goods and Byron Landham. I never knew that Glasper worked with Malone. Goods is also on yesterday's concert by the Mark Whitfield Quartet (w/Peter Delano and Donald Edwards). Today's post is a Hilton Ruiz set.

A Hilton Ruiz set from the Blue Note's Patreon page. I really enjoy the two RCA albums of his I have, so this post was a pleasant surprise.

Curt Berg & The Avon Street Quintet - At Stagg Street Studio

There is an ill-advised family picnic happening next weekend. I suspected that people would drop their guard with restrictions loosening, but I didn't anticipate it happening so soon. We aren't attending and I'm sure our absence will ruffle some feathers.

I only have Hot House. I found it used a few years ago and discovered that the inside of the booklet was signed by Lacy.

Russell Malone - Look Who's Here: This is the same band as the Blue Note's Patreon video, except with Anthony Wonsey instead of Robert Glasper (w/ Richie Goods and Byron Landham). The Blue Note's video prompted me to rip this and three other Malone albums that sonehow weren't in my Google Play library. He is a helluva player.

I'm listening to the show they posted today, which is the Russell Malone Quartet with Robert Glasper(!), Richie Goods and Byron Landham. I never knew that Glasper worked with Malone. Goods is also on yesterday's concert by the Mark Whitfield Quartet (w/ Peter Delano and Donald Edwards).

This is one of only two physical CDs I own of Braxton's music and I guess it is an oddball recording since he is on piano. Beyond that, I have downloads of New York, Fall 1974, Old Dogs and a boatload of (then-)free bootlegs from the early Tricentric days. I have heard a lot of out music since first downloading the bootlegs, so I should revisit the series. Heck, I haven't listened to Old Dogs.

Ugh. My landlord was over doing some work outside and totally invaded my space. I didn't think that I needed to mask up to get groceries from the car.

Rarely does a photo of people being arrested warm my heart so much.

Arlington Houston - Cool Casual: This arrived today. I took a flier on it and am glad I did. I was unfamiliar with Houston, who has worked and recorded with John Handy, and only knew his front line of Javon Jackson and Patches Stewart. The album has catchy originals as well as 2 Wayne Shorter tunes and one each by Ron Carter and Tony Williams. Houston is strong on upright and electric without letting chops override taste. It is a feel-good date. Houston hasn't recorded another leader date, unfortunately.