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Surrounded by the brilliant musical family who have centered his band for years—bassist Rodney Whitaker, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Quincy Davis—guitarist Randy Napoleon calls back four of his fleet-fingered, virtuoso former guitar students to share the stage and build up something new for his 10th project as a leader, “Waking Dream.” Centered on compositions from the prolific Gregg Hill, along with several of his own, he arranged each for this 5-guitar choir of musicians, all connected through years of Napoleon’s mentorship, each fully evolved in their own artistry.
Twenty years after the first went head-to-head on 2005’s “The Battle,” saxophone heavy hitters Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring square off once again for a long-anticipated rematch. The ferocious swing and robust melodicism of “Split Decision” is the third in a trilogy of blistering summit meetings captured on stage live at Smoke Jazz Club. There’s also ample inspiration to be had when you’re working with the caliber of rhythm section that the pair enlisted for this date. Pianist Mike LeDonne and bassist John Weber reprise their roles from the two previous dates, this time joined by the legendary Lewis Nash on drums.
Also this week, “My Latin Heart” originates from flutist Roger Glenn’s earliest inspirations growing up in a jazz family which included his father, jazz legend Tyree Glenn, and surrounded by a rich mix of cultures; saxophonist and composer Jaleel Shaw, who performed with Stefon Harris at this year’s Iowa City Jazz Festival, unveils “Painter of the Invisible”; and trumpeter Alex Sipiagin offers up his 14th release as a leader, “Reverberations.”