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Fans of Greg Skaff may know him as one of modern jazz’s premier organ jazz guitarists through his own trios with hard grooving greats like Mike LeDonne and Pat Bianchi; or as a veteran first-call sideman, from his early years with soul-jazz titan Stanley Turrentine through decades of work with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Matt Wilson, Bobby Watson and countless others. Despite that impressive resume, Skaff mark a career first with his new album, “Polaris,” enlisting jazz royalty Ron Carter and Albert “Tootie” Heath for his first ever guitar/bass/drums trio album, reuniting the legendary bassist and drummer for the first time in decades.
There’s a beautiful marriage happening with Greg Abate’s “Magic Dance.” It’s the union between Abate’s multi-instrumental gift of bebop and Kenny Barron’s varied and sublime compositions. Abate, with Barron, who handles keys on this recording session, are soul mates sharing this epic music space. In Abate’s skillful hands, thanks to his ability to shift between alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxes and flute, Barron’s transcendent melodies take on new tones, colors and patterns. Underneath it all is the hot-shot rhythm section of bass player Dezron Douglas and drummer Johnathan Blake.
Also this week Charles Lloyd offers up “Tone Poem,” his third release with the Marvels featuring guitarist Bill Frisell;
pianist-composer Yelena Eckemoff unfurls her most elaborate and ambitious musical work yet with “Adventures of the Wildflower”;
and organ master Tony Monaco teams up with harmonica ace Hendrik Meurkens for Strollin’.”