Preston Frazier’s Best of 2021 jazz favorites include terrific releases by Branford Marsalis, Nick Finzer, Ruben Blades and others:
BRANFORD MARSALIS – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (JAZZ): Unless you spent the last few weeks of 2020 holed up in a bunker, you are familiar with the wonderful and probably award-winning Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Available on Netflix, the movie is an unflinching look at the “Mother of Blues,” Ma Rainey, as she goes about the process of making an album in Chicago, instead of her usual venue of New Orleans. Multi-award winning composer/saxophonist Branford Marsalis faces the challenge of providing music that captures the 1920s motif, works in the background yet strongly supports the musical setting. Faced with those parameters, Marsalis seems to easily work outside of his comfort zone with the period-specific compositions. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will get Academy Award attention. Vocalist Maxayn Lewis provided a level of swagger which fits the main protagonist. The band swings with authority, melding the Chicago and New York vibe, and casting a spell which is maintained throughout the album. Gems among gems: “Leftovers,” a smoldering piano-driven ballad, and “In the Shadow of Joe Oliver,” a muted trumpet slow-burner. Branford Marsalis has made the finest background music of the last 12 months, equal in quality to this fantastic film.
PETER DiCARLO – ONWARD (JAZZ): The taunt and aerobic interplay between bandleader Peter DiCarlo and on alto and guest tenor saxophonist Scott Wendholt on the title track immediately grabs your attention. You soon realize DiCarlo is not holding back on his debut album. The New York City-based tenor player brings eight compelling original songs coupled with fresh and lively arrangements and a skilled group of players to propel these songs forward. “Feast in the Fusar,” arranged by Lee Hogans, offers a touch of contrast with its moving yet seemingly straight-forward rhythms, while “Stepping Off” grooves as drummer Chris Parker and bassist Jim Ridl take flight before Peter DiCarlo lifts the song to new heights with his powerful solo. Onward gives us one more great thing to rejoice in 2021.
DAN WILSON – VESSELS OF WOOD AND EARTH (JAZZ): “The Rhythm Section” kicks things off on Dan Wilson’s latest release in excellent form. The guitarist is on fire for his third major label release, and the first since 2017’s To Whom It May Concern. An accomplished sideman with Joey DeFrancesco, Wilson has a proven talent as a fine composer and arranger. Vessels of Wood and Earth is yet another demonstration of those skills, and his warm tone and understated guitar stylings. “Bird of Beauty” offers a lovely and slow-burning contrast to the album opener, while “The Reconstruction” walks the powerful band (which includes keyboardist Christian Sands, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and bassist Marco Panascia plus special guests Christian McBride and vocalist Joy Brown) through their paces. You don’t have to be a guitarist the enjoy these 11 songs; you do have to appreciate musical craftsmanship.
DAVID GARFIELD – STRETCHIN’ OUTSIDE THE BOX (JAZZ): Here’s yet another fantastic David Garfield-led musical journey. This sixth installment of Outside the Box is an expansive 24-track collection of singles from the series, as well as tributes to giants like Joe Sample and Herbie Hancock. “Waiting for Your Love,” (yes, the Toto song) is transformed by Garfield. Utilizing Greg Phillinganes, Ray Parker Jr., David Paich and the late Michael Finnigan, the song becomes a funkified stomper. “Rainbow Seeker,” dedicated to Joe Sample and Chuck Loeb, features Loeb, Marcus Miller, Steve Jordan, Dean Parks, Tony Pulizzi and Lenny Castro. It’s another example of Garfield’s genius as an arranger and player. Stretchin’ Outside the Box combines styles more than an album in the series, but there isn’t a dog in the bunch. The only downside is its the last in this David Garfield series.
NATE SMITH – KINFOLK 2: SEE THE BIRDS (JAZZ FUSION): Referring to Nate Smith as just a drummer is to do him a major disservice. Sure, he’s a drummer and a tremendous one. I’ve witnessed his prowess playing with the terrific Jose James. But Smith has proven his meddle as a composer, arranger, and bandleader on his solo work. His 2017 album Kinfolk remains high on my list for that year. Kinfolk 2: See the Birds swings for the musical fences like its predecessor, often connecting. A few guests such as Vernon A. Reid on “Rambo, The Vigilante,” and “Fly (for Mike)” featuring Brittany Howard, add textures to the album, but never outshine the strong production and daring work of Nate Smith. This multi-genre work is a thing to behold.
RUBEN BLADES with ROBERTO DELGADO and ORQUESTA – SALSWING (JAZZ/BIG BAND): Composer, singer, actor and activist Ruben Blades does not seem to be slowing, and Salswing shows how multi-faceted he remains. Working with the esteemed Roberto Delgado Orquesta, Blades fuses Afro-Cuban, touches of salsa and jazz to create an infectious and compelling album. “Paula C” demonstrates the versatility of Blades’ voice. The contrast with the song “Pennies From Heaven” is equally striking. Blades goes for broke, utilizing the full range of the Delgado’s group. The arrangements are lush yet spacious enough to allow the individual soloists to contribute. The result is what Blades refers to as “mixtura,” a concept which expresses the hope that good music prevails and is accepted, if done with quality and good intent. Ruben Blades and the Roberto Delgado Orquesta have taken this concept to heart on Salswing, and the results speak for themselves.
NICK FINZER – ‘CAST OF CHARACTERS’: LIVE FROM DENTON EP (JAZZ): At just three songs, Nick Finzer’s ‘Cast of Characters’: Live From Denton isn’t a complete representation of his brilliant 2020 LP. However, in a time of closed jazz venues and limited opportunities to hear great players, these three songs provided a welcome release. Finzer and his band (Lucus Pino on tenor sax, Quincy Davis on drums, Dave Meder on piano, and Etic Hitt on bass) also deliver animated versions. “A Sorcerer (is a Myth)” features a lively tug of war between Finzer and Pino. “Patience, Patience” is an elegant ballad, and the group allows the melody to flow while giving bassist Hitt an opportunity to shine. “The Evolution of Perspective,” in its expanded form here, builds on its original theme with robust trombone/tenor interaction, and muscular rhythmic backing. Nick Finzer has recorded at least two other versions of this song, but this update eclipses the other strong versions – and that, by itself, makes this EP and the video series on Finzer’s YouTube channel a must-hear.
ANDREW GREEN – DIME DANCING: THE MUSIC OF STEELY DAN (JAZZ): After the death of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, I was comfortable walking away from the band’s music. How many times can you listen to “Aja” and debate the merits of Steve Gadd’s drum solo? When I saw Andrew Green’s Dime Dancing: The Music of Steely Dan, I immediately tossed it in my recycle bin. Do I need an interpretation of songs which were near perfect to begin with? Upon second thought, I thought, “Why not listen?” I’m glad I did. The New York-based guitarist didn’t cut corners with his arrangements. As a result, each of the eight interpretations are daring, and more often than not are successful. Green uses his considerable musical gravitas to invite some heavy-hitting jazz colleagues to the project. Featured vocalist Miriam Waks provides fantastic interpretations of Donald Fagen’s originals (sorry, no “Slang of Ages” here). Green gets off to a strong and unusual start with “Black Cow” – a sassy and determined highlight, sung with Waks’ distinctive powerful style and supported by a string ensemble – then Dime Dancing never looks back. Perhaps my favorite cut is “Any World (That I’m Welcome To),” where a salsa vibe, strings, acoustic guitar and bass feels more Cuban than New York. The song is almost a joyous celebration of being a misfit. Fans of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen owe it to yourselves to give Andrew Green’s Dime Dancing: The Music of Steely Dan a try. If you want to challenge and inspired jazz to listen to during these strange times, this is something you should own.
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