Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
When Benny Golson left Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1958, the drummer turned to a Messenger alumnus, Hank Mobley, to take over the sax chair. Known for his writing as well as his playing, Mobley had worked with both trumpeter Lee Morgan and pianist Bobby Timmons as well as Blakey. When this early-’59 Messengers unit entered Rudy Van Gelder’s studio on March 8, half the tracks were Mobley originals. The results of that session, however, remained unissued for 60 years. Now available for the first time, “Just Coolin’” features Morgan, Mobley, and Timmons all in their prime.
Steve Grismore has been playing guitar for over 50 years and is one of the most in-demand players in Eastern Iowa and beyond. He grew up in Iowa and, after studying and teaching at various schools around the country, received his M.A. in Jazz Theory from the University of Iowa and became Director of Jazz Studies there for three years beginning in 1990. He returned to the school in 2000 and continues as a full-time jazz instructor there. He’s performed with many nationally-recognized jazz artists as well as various local ensembles over the years and is the co-founder of the prestigious Iowa City Jazz Festival. His new CD, “Better Times (Are A Comin’): Steve Grismore Trio plays the Music of Ornette Coleman” is his first trio recording in eight years and features Fabio Augustinas on drums and Danny Oline on bass.
Also this week, Steve Slagle and his trio are “Alive in Harlem,” recorded in honor of Charlie Parker’s 100th centennial year;
multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Derrick Hodge’s 3rd album, “Color of Noize,” reflects a melting pot of influences and experiences with jazz flow, hip-hop groove, soulful depth and creative fire;
and on “The Question,” pianist Glenn Zaleski returns to an ensemble, the quintet, that provided a great deal of inspiration early in his development.