Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Jerry Weldo
n is one of today’s leading proponents of soul jazz who represents the bar walkin’, hard-blowing tenor legends of the American jazz scene. His tenure with the Lionel Hampton Band in the early ‘80s allowed him to develop his performance skills and create within him the energy and motivation to perform this great music for audiences worldwide. Today Jerry continues his big band showmanship with the Harry Connick, Jr., Big Band. He headed to Oakland last summer to record his new CD, “On the Move,” teaming up with former Jimmy Smith guitarist Steve Homan, Headhunters drummer Mike Clark, and organist Bobby Pierce.
Best known for her work with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s group, New York saxophonist/composer Roxy Coss developed the compositions and group concept for her second recording, “Restless Idealism,” during a three-year residency of her Quintet at New York’s famed Smoke Jazz Club. With Pelt on trumpet, long-time band members Alex Wintz on guitar and pianist Chris Pattishall, and the dynamic duo of bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer WillieJones III, Coss has created a thoughtful, highly emotive and undeniably fearless recording. Inspired by the Jazz Messengers, Wayne Shorter and Kurt Rosenwinkel, Roxy further defines her own unique voice through ten original compositions.
Also this week, veteran saxophonist and flutist Lew Tabackin is joined by bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Mark Taylor for his first recording in more than a decade, “Soundscapes”; contemporary jazz stalwarts Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber and Everette Harp join together as Jazz Funk Soul for their second release as an ensemble, “More Serious Business”; and saxophonist Ken Fowser unveils his first disc as leader of his own quintet, “Standing Tall.”
