Jerry Weldon - The Summit - "Keep it swinging; that's the main thing" is not only tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon's description of the music on this album from his new band but also can stand as his musical life motto. The band heard here reflects his love of the hard swinging, hard bop bands of the mid-20th Century, most notably Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (especially when it was a sextet with trumpet, tenor sax and trombone) and The Jazztet (of Benny Golson and Art Farmer). Weldon has put together a band of younger, but veteran, jazz musicians; Alonzo Demetrius, trumpet; Peter Lin, trombone; Mike Bond, piano; Jason Clotter, bass, and Carmen Intorre Jr., drums. This album was recorded live before an enthusiastic crowd at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Jersey.
Grant Stewart - Next Spring - World-renowned tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart is known for his rich tone, swinging phrasing, and deep connection to the jazz tradition. Next Spring is his 5th album for Cellar Music. He is joined by three of his favorite players; Tardo Hammer on piano, Paul Sikivie on bass and Phil Stewart on drums.
Joe Magnarelli - Decidedly So - Decidedly So by trumpeter Joe Magnarelli features trombone dynamo Steve Davis, pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist Clovis Nicolas & drummer Rodney Green. For his third release for Cory Weeds' Cellar Live label, Joe features trombone dynamo Steve Davis in the frontline, backed by a snap-crackle rhythm section of pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist Clovis Nicolas, and drummer Rodney Green. They investigate a solid, appealing mix of originals and standards with elan that makes for deeply enjoyable listening.
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. In February of 2023 close friends, Cory Weeds and Champion Fulton travelled to OCL Studios just outside Calgary to record a new live, duo album in front of a rapt audience. Their special bond was evident as pianist and vocalist Fulton delivered sophisticated, swinging turns across a set of beautiful tunes, in conversation with Weeds at his expressive best.
Jazz from The Pacific Northwest combines two previously unissued concert recordings from one of the greatest jazz drummers of all-time, Shelly Manne. The first recording features Monty Budwig on bass, Russ Freeman on piano, Stu Williamson on trumpet, and Herb Geller on flute and alto saxophone recorded at the Monterey Jazz Festival on October 4, 1958. The second recording features Hampton Hawes on piano, Frank Strozier on flute and alto saxophone, Conte Condoli on trumpet and guest vocalist Ruth Price on two tracks recorded at the Penthouse jazz club in Seattle on September 7 and 15, 1966. - The deluxe package includes an extensive booklet with essays by renowned archival producer Zev Feldman and label owner/producer/musician Cory Weeds, plus passages from Tim Jackson of the Monterey Jazz Festival, Charlie Puzzo Jr. From the Penthouse, and engineer/radio host Jim Wilke; interviews from musicians Jim Keltner, Peter Erskine, Ruth Price, Bill Holman and Joe LaBarbera; and rare photos and memorabilia. - New York City-born Manne rose to fame in the 1950s after moving to Los Angeles and is known as a founding father of the "West Coast Jazz" scene. He is highly regarded as one of the most versatile and talented drummers of the day performing with countless legends including Andre Previn, Sonny Rollins, Stan Kenton, Charlie Ventura, Kai Winding and many others. Manne teamed up with Previn and Leroy Vinnegar to produce the first jazz album of a Broadway score for their version of "My Fair Lady, " and he has numerous television/movie credits along with performing and composing scores. His recorded works include numerous albums for Capitol, Atlantic, Impulse!, Mainstream, Contemporary, Flying Dutchman and other international labels.
Black vinyl edition of the new album Building Characters from pianist Charles Chen. Chen pairs jazz legends with other legends from fiction. The album features an acoustic Horace Silver-esque band playing in a variety of styles including bossa nova, classical influenced jazz, funk, swing, pop ballad, & post-bop. It features Randy Brecker on trumpet, Bob Sheppard and Lawrence Feldman on sax, Mike Richmond on bass, & Adam Nussbaum on drums.
'My Ideal' is powerhouse saxophonist Sam Dillon's second quartet album for Cellar Music. Recorded at the Mecca of recording studios, Rudy Van Gelder's, the music on this album is a combination Dillon originals, standards and combinations of both. Accompanied by David Hazeltine on piano, Alexander Claffy on bass and Rodney Green on drums, Dillon is on fine form and shows it's not without good reason that he is renowned in the jazz world as 'the burning tenor saxophone player'.
