The Anthony Wilson Trio: Jack of Hearts (2009)

'Jack of Hearts' isn't the first Anthony Wilson album to feature an organist extensively; for example, he worked with the Los Angeles-based organist Joe Bagg on his 2005 release 'Savivity'. But the guitarist has worked with acoustic pianists more often than organists (at least as of 2009), and 'Jack of Hearts' is unusual in that it finds Wilson not using a pianist at all. On this early 2009 session, Wilson forms an intimate trio with Larry Goldings on organ and Jeff Hamilton or Jim Keltner on drums.
In the '90s and 2000s, Goldings was one of the leading proponents of a post-Jimmy Smith aesthetic on the Hammond B-3. Goldings has been greatly influenced by the late Larry Young, who started out as a Smith disciple but evolved into an innovative, distinctive post-bop/modal player and went down in history as "The John Coltrane of the Organ." Of course, Goldings is not a clone of Young; he is most certainly his own person, but he shares Young's love of post-bop. So it isn't surprising that Goldings does a lot to shape the post-bop perspective that dominates 'Jack of Hearts'. His presence is a major plus on material that was composed by Goldings and/or Wilson, and it is a major plus on memorable arrangements of Coleman Hawkins' "Hawkeyes" and two of Duke Ellington's lesser-known pieces ("Zweet Zursday" and "Carnegie Blues"). The fact that neither of those Ellington tunes is a standard speaks well of Wilson, who is smart enough to realize that one of the joys of the vast Ellington songbook is hearing all of the worthwhile Ellington compositions that didn't become standards. Jack of Hearts is a consistently engaging addition to Wilson's catalog.

Personnel:
Anthony Wilson - elec. guitar
Larry Goldings - hammond B-3 & celeste
Jeff Hamilton or Jim Keltner - drums
Tracklist:
1. Mezcal
2. Jack of Hearts
3. Hawkeyes
4. Carnegie Blues
5. Theme from "Chinatown"
6. Vida Perdida Acabou
7. Orange Crate Art
8. Harajuku
9. Zweet Zursday
10. Homecoming
Jack Of Hearts
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Javon Jackson: Pleasant Valley (1999)

Tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson and cohorts have found plenty of fertile ground in Pleasant Valley. Using Larry Goldings's down-home organ as a backdrop and Dave Stryker's light-fingered guitar as a foil, Jackson has managed to evoke the creative days of early fusion (in particular, the Tony Williams Lifetime) while fitting in perfectly with the lounge-jazz mainstream. Jackson has a dollop of funk in his sophisticated tone, which he adds judiciously, giving a little juice to his complex, serpentine lines. Combine this with the sensitive interaction of the group, the relative rhythmic freedoms of drummer Billy Drummond, and the psychedelic rock-guitar effects, and you have much more than a mere copy of the '50s organ-tenor sound. What you have is a cauldron of creative possibilities welded to an earthy, unhurried feel. And that feeling is, indeed, a pleasant one: a form of relaxed stimulation.

A solid, dependable and mild-mannered saxophonist, Javon Jackson studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for several years before joining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. The saxophonist’s niche in today’s jazz world is filled with solid mainstream vibrations and a caressing respect for the instrument. Jackson’s approach is a bit laid-back, his tone is true, and his articulation serves him well. At 33, the saxophonist is in a position to either branch out or to focus more on that aspect of his career which he finds most satisfying.
On Pleasant Valley, the focus is on fitting together some of Jackson’s best-loved symbols of the art. Compositions on the album were written for Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Garrett, Donald Brown, and Jim Hall. "Sun Swept Sunday" is from Duke Ellington’s film score to Anatomy Of A Murder. Two others are pop tunes, while "Hippodelphia" comes from the pen of Joe Zawinul. That Jackson and Garrett are close friends who worked with Blakey together plays into the unique voicing the leader employs on "Brother G." Veering away from the lower tenor sax register that Jackson stays with elsewhere, this tribute aims higher, hanging instead in the middle and upper register neighborhood. Thus, he attains a sound closer to Garrett’s alto saxophone tone. Underlying this tonal ploy is a sense of majesty that Jackson has written into the melody and harmony.

With Larry Goldings and Dave Stryker blending timbres, the quartet’s cool, relaxed attitude recalls that of the classic organ combo. Jackson’s latest exemplifies what we sometimes think of as "the Blue Note sound" and sits comfortably "in the pocket."

Tracklist:
01 - Sun Swept Sunday
02 - Pleasant Valley
03 - Hippodelphia
04 - Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
05 - Jim Jam
06 - In the Pocket
07 - Brother 'G'
08 - Love and Happiness
09 - For One Who Knows
Personnel:
Javon Jackson - Tenor Saxophone
Dave Stryker - Guitar
Larry Goldings- Organ
Billy Drummond - Drums
Pleasant Valley
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Pat Metheny and Michael Brecker Special Quartet - Live at Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany (2000)

Recorded live on July 3, 2000 at Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Tracklist:

01-Slings and Arrows

02-Half Past Late

03-Timeline

04-Into The Dream
05-Extradition

06-Summertime

07-As I Am

08-What Do You Want
09-Everyday (I Thank You)
10-Faith Healer
11-Song For Bilbao
Personnel:
Michael Brecker: Tenor
Pat Metheny: Guitar
Larry Goldings: Organ
Bill Stewart: Drums
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Jeff Richman: Like That (2010)

Jeff Richman's 15th solo release and delivers ten hard-hitting, playful compositions with catchy melodies and a refreshingly modern sound. Richman continues to shine in his ability to write music with creative intricacy andsophistication, articulating his individual point of view. This time around, his guitar tone is deeper, more resonant, robust and alive. Richman's style of playing complex changes fluidly over these infectious grooves will satisfy over many listenings. Musicians include: Alex Acuna, Vinnie Coliauta, Mitchel Foreman, Larry Goldings, Steve Hass, Deron Johnson, William Kennedy, Neil Stubenhaus, Dean Taba.

Tracklist:

01. Like That (5:41)
02. In Spirited (5:32)
03. Small Kid Time (5:41)
04. Awful Pretty (6:30)
05. The Endless Inbetween (5:49)
06. Rock Tall (5:28)
07. Tsuyako (4:48)
08. Touch And Go (5:12)
09. In Flux (6:48)
10. Truffaz (5:21)
Like That
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