Cary Kilner's Picks: Volume 67
By Cary Kilner

Joey Calderazzo – First Impressions, To Know One & Dolphin Dance
I haven’t presented this pianist previously, but he is a great modernist accompanied very ably by Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, who previously worked together in Keith Jarrett’s early trio. No bass or drum solos – just a ripping run with them contributing to the statement. The second tune is a pretty tune in which Dave solos first, followed seamlessly by a great loose modern trio sound with the pianist. And finally a gorgeous treatment of Herbie’s well-known tune, Dolphin Dance.
https://youtu.be/mKGdtL-P1Us?si=N1YRKWU3OaD5nG-J
https://youtu.be/3nX9Wbh4AXw?si=BLVHX2tOTxDiy9HX
https://youtu.be/XxsKcJvnk3E?si=PPqWHDHWz5uCrqXO
 
Eric Reed Trio – Cleopatra’s Dream
Another modern trio playing a jazz waltz, which we would actually call 6/8 swing, And his rhythm section, Ron Carter (you’ll love his classic deep solo with harmonics and bent notes) and Al Foster on drums.
https://youtu.be/8eVhzVWmraY?si=G_9QG9C-RKObf4nB
 
Diane Krall and Russell Malone – Deed I Do
I have never found a singer/pianist that I like as much as this. It’s a classic mainstream treatment of a rarely played standard tune. She is a cooking player while singing gracefully. How does she do it? Like organists playing left-hand bass while improvising with the right hand, as you will hear in my next link. Great rhythm section of guitar, with John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton on bass and drums respectively, who work together a lot with other artists.
https://youtu.be/YqZhBDzhET0?si=A7H0w1KpHvNU1uWr
 
Larry Young quartet – Ritha, Tyrone & Plaza De Toros
Pardon me if I wax a bit longer on this excellent LP that I just rediscovered. Larry is a unique and little-known modern organist. But boy does he swing and play beautiful and interesting lines while playing bass in his left hand! Part of this beautiful swing can be attributed to the great Elvin Jones on drums. And you will love Grant Green on guitar, if you have not heard him, for his economy in expressing his ideas similar to Ed Bickert; they both play simply and intelligently. This quartet functions as such a well-integrated group. Ritha is done as a trio here, but in a second take (not here) Sam Rivers comes in with his quasi-abstract sound.

Note, Miles liked Sam’s style such that he was the tenor chosen, for a short period, in his third great quintet between George Coleman and Wayne Shorter. Most of the time Larry is playing left-hand bass. But on one slower tune he must be playing pedal bass as I can hear some LH on organ. He's doing three things at once! Note how the tunes have simple structures and swing like mad! The solos of Grant and Larry are an uncluttered look at the composition and structure of single-note lines.

Finally there's Elvin Jones, who is a legend like Roy Haynes and Tony. His brothers are Hank Jones, piano and Thad Jones, trumpet, both who are excellent players. They grew up in Pontiac, Mich, 28 miles from my childhood town of Romeo, Mich. (Check out Hank Jones on piano in the following link.) Elvin was on many Blue Note records, then went on to play with Coltrane. He has a very loose style -- much looser than most of the other drummers of that period. He churns and burns. He has a classic thing of adding a final cymbal splash or crash to most tunes he plays. As I have told my past jazz-listening students, it is useful to focus on listening exclusively to Elvin for one playing of a tune to hear all of his subtle inflections.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-QV-Vigi8
https://youtu.be/2R-QV-Vigi8?si=JeNia_RZQF_-4ldw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-QV-Vigi8 

Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1966) – Mean What You Say
Here is an excellent example of the transition from traditional Big Band to our much more modern BB. I attach this link principally for the exquisite Hank Jones piano introduction to the tune. It is so quiet and delicate, after which the band comes roaring in!
https://youtu.be/eRN0Wssq1v8?si=rrqXghrJ_fS_xjWg
 
Thelonious Monk – Rhythm-A-Ning
What’s not to like about this classic quartet! I always thought that Charlie Rouse was the perfect tenor for Monk. However, the later Johnny Griffith wasn’t too bad, either. How does Thelonious make simple stuff sound so interesting and good?
https://youtu.be/C-nQqZVUqds?si=6YYcxp1mdqHcDxv7
 
Errol Garner – I’ll Remember April & Where or When
I cannot recall if I gave you these from this classic album. I never thought his studio recordings were very interesting, but this live album – I wore out my parents copy. He plays with such abandon! I Remember April features all of his classic and unique pianist devices.
https://youtu.be/OfQvMpihfak?si=mIaN3F-E0uamfM0A
https://youtu.be/zrMYEVnw6iA?si=ZAmMwMlm7IfZuaob
 
Herbie Hancock – One Finger Snap
I also may have given you this before, but it is truly astounding with Freddie Hubbard (cornet), Ron Carter (bass)  and Tony Williams (drums), who simply kills it. As with Elvin, listen all the way through to only Tony to catch everything he does. All of his fills show what a monster he was. To my mind, this is the finest Freddie Hubbard on record, if not the finest jazz trumpet solo. Listen at 1:30 where Herbie drops out and Freddie plays an amazing duet with Tony!
https://youtu.be/yQgv5bRqmnk?si=4hTKrsJPZ7JX-SjX
 
I now give you a spate of duets.
 
Metheny & Meldau – Bachelor’s III
These two without a rhythm section do just fine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_PQel_aoF8
 
Tommy Emmanuel & Joscho Stephan – Caravan
If this does not blow you away, I don’t know what would! There’s some absolutely astonishing guitar work here!
https://youtu.be/EZdy41sWCsY?si=q-rRCq3zfQWuDme8
 
Here’s two more duets I’ve given you a long time ago, just to keep all the duets in one place.
 
Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock – Gershwin’s Liza at an outdoor concert in Japan
Herbie comes in wailing, then Chick responds in kind! They trade choruses, then eights, then fourths -- Watch their faces to see their visual interplay – they are so happy!
https://youtu.be/mIp4hLGTjDU?si=jD1EQuRnQMiKs63G
 
Cory Henry & Nick Semrad – jam session at NAMM show 2016
Nick sits down and initiates a bluesy jam-tune, and Cory gradually jumps in to engage with him.
https://youtu.be/8TwhLplrFNo?si=LidW1twn92Eb7aTf
 
Hiromi – Tiny Desk Concert
This woman is out of control with her huge stack of hair and exuberant demeanor. And a great trumpet player – this band is just great. There are some real gems on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts.
https://youtu.be/pnISpahN2dM?si=PWc7mAv8ha8a9NL2
 
Paul Desmond & Ed Bickert – Just Squeeze Me & Everything I Love
Ron is beautifully recorded; he’s “in the pocket” as we would say. Tasty solos by Paul and Ed. Dig the beautiful harmonies Ed plays with only 6 strings. Dig the economy of his solos; he just keeps on keepin' on! Space is the place. And Paul with his beautiful sound just riding on top of it all....
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=x04Rkp0ZQlQ&si=QyW0xPnseCHU6McA
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=i5hL2JHfp70&si=lwt9uWkOIjgD7XrG

Chorinho is the name of a Brazilian samba song form, played here as a tune written by Lyle Mays, the original pianist with Pat Metheny Group. (Lyle unfortunately died recently at 66.) Husband and wife, Renee Rosnes & Bill Charlap play the first link as a duet. He has his trio and she leads that all-women killer group, Artemis, both of whom I’ve seen at Jimmy's. This very remarkable and interesting tune has constantly moving chord changes that are based on the constantly falling bass line.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=u9-o_mU0vVU&si=C47h7Ku4LhrGPwVF
 
Here is the original performance, written and played by Pat. The first is his studio version; the second is a live version. How does he do it??
https://youtu.be/6uQhJ2hLIy0?si=_BQfSHwZkg4fglWR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfevSOxTgP8
 
Ending with Oscar!
Oscar Peterson – I’ve Never Been in Love Before – from Oscar “Live From Chicago” Everything available from Oscar is priceless! I don't know if he is regarded in this way, but I consider him Art Tatum's successor. I remember seeing him with adult friends of my mom & dad at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (in Detroit) when I was young. My favorite Peterson album is this one. He plays a lot longer and with more vigor than on his studio albums. This example is priceless! Note how he uses dynamics and builds energy -- that's the real deal! Every bar is carefully controlled. (I just love Ed Thigpen's ride cymbal, which you will hear when Ray Brown begins walking.) Check out the Trio’s classic ending! Keep listening to YouTube as it continues with the whole album. Next is “The Wee Small Hours of the Morning” -- absolutely beautiful! I wore out this album! I urge you to listen to EVERY cut on this album!
https://youtu.be/joLFHFWHT1A?si=dHFWNvxK-D2faXvG