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Toronto has been known as a great jazz city for decades. When jazz fans all over the world hear bands like Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, they instantly recognize the swinging arrangements and immaculate playing as being emblematic of the Toronto sound. With “The Toronto Project,” The Composers Collective Big Band has put together its most ambitious project yet, commissioning Toronto’s top jazz composers to write about the neighborhoods and aspects of their city that inspire them the most. The 18-piece jazz ensemble, led by trombonist and composer Christian Overton, formed in 2005 to presents new works for large jazz ensemble by Canadian composers.
“Live” is the newest release from the Towner Galaher Organ Trio. It was recorded during the Covid lockdown at a restaurant in Connecticut during a private event with a small number of family and friends. The organ trio has become a sub-genre of the jazz over the years, with a swingin’ funky, greasy, bluesy sound. This new disc serves as an homage to the great organ trios that were especially popular in the 1950s and ‘60s. The drummer is joined by Lonnie Gasperini on the Hammond B3 organ and Marvin Horne on guitar on a program of originals and some organ trio classics.
Also this week, Mike Melito celebrates 40 years as a professional drummer with his eighth self-released album, “To Swing is the Thing”;
saxophonist Roy McGrath explores the folkloric rhythms bomba and plena of his native Puerto Rico on his latest disc, “Menjunje”;
and pianist Chris Keefe enlisted bassist Harvie S and drummer Adam Nussbaum to join in on his debut release, “Opening.”