Geof Bradfield – Yes, and…Music for Nine Improvisors (Delmark): Educator/composer/sax player Geof Bradfield is based in Chicago and currently has seven discs as a leader. He composed all of the songs on this disc. The players are Geof Bradfield (tenor, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet), Greg Ward (alto sax), Anna Webber(flute, bass flute, tenor sax), Russ Johnson and Marquis Hill (trumpets), Joel Adams (trombone), Scott Hesse(guitar), Clark Sommers (bass) and Dana Hall (drums/percussion). “The music ranges from carefully scored passages for reeds and horns to more spontaneous interchanges among various subsets of players. In both scenarios, the music finds continuity in the tonal glow of the ensemble playing, the subtlety of instrumental voicing, and the harmonic sophistication of everything these players have to offer.” (Liner notes) Click here and to listen to the first two cuts on this disc.
Sam Javitch Quartet – People and Places (Self-produced): This is composer/pianist Sam Javitch’s second release and his first leading a quartet. Javitch has a straight forward style that should appeal to many jazz fans, thanks to his solid playing and the interactions between him and Rich Perry (tenor sax) and the solid play of the rhythm section: Adrian Moring (bass) and Matt Nieldbalski (drums). All seven of the songs are originals and that further enhances the program. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.