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The music of Herbie Hancock has affected the lives of generations of jazz performers. Like many of these musicians, it was the opportunity to play with the great pianist/composer that introduced the drummer Mike Clark to the jazz world at large. Hancock initially had Harvey Mason in the drum chair for his band the Headhunters, but when work constraints prevented him from continuing in the band, Clark was recommended by his friend and bassist Paul Jackson. Clark chose longtime collaborators bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and pianist Jon Davis for his new project, “Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock.”
Jim Alfredson brings everyone together for his first release as a leader for Posi-Tone Records. With all-star horn players supporting a top-notch organ trio in combination with a stunning program of new compositions and innovative arrangements, “Family Business” demonstrates Alfredson’s musical leadership and his total mastery of the Hammond organ. This hard-hitting sextet session features the inspired front line playing of Diego Rivera on tenor sax, Alex Sipiagin on trumpet and Michael Dease on trombone, along with the cool comping of Will Bernard on guitar, and the steady metrics of EJ Strickland on drums.
Also this week, bassist and composer Gabriel Espinosa, recently retired as head of the jazz program at Central College in Pella, is joined by special guest Kim Nazarian of New York Voices for “Bossas and Boleros”;
saxophonist Dave McMurray delves into another batch of songs from the Grateful Dead songbook for his latest, “Grateful Deadication 2”;
and the highly esteemed saxophonist T.K. Blue creates a remarkable album of melodic romantic music on “The Tide of Love,” featuring vibraphonist Stefon Harris and pianist James Weidman.