GEORGE'S BRIEFS

Wayne Alpern; Modern Music

I would suspect that pianist Wayne Alpern has an extensive background in classical music. His twenty solo creations are varied, life affirming, spirited, and simply delicious! Kudos to him for sharing his splendid pianistic flights of fancy. Recommended!

Self produced; 2025; times not indicated

Antonia Bennett; Expressions

Maybe you remember a singer named Joanie Sommers. Well, Antonia Bennett reminds me of her and to be clear, that's a compliment. She offers us a distinct array of standards, a French melody, and I suspect, a few originals. Antonia Bennett brings us a perky, youthful, optimistic approach. Why not give her a try!

Self produced; probably 2025; times not indicated

Lili Maljic; The Nearness Of You

 

There are still some folks out there who honor the great American Songbook, and singer Lili Maljic is obviously one of them. Working with a quartet that allows generous solo space for Jim Rotundi on trumpet and Oliver Kent on piano, Ms. Maljic winds her way through ten “forever” tunes including “Easy To Love”, “The Touch Of Your Lips”, “This Can't Be Love”, “The Song Is You”, and the really nice surprise of the set, “I Didn't Know About You”. Maljic is spot on key, and while she's not exactly a scat specialist, she comfortably adds some vocal decor to her presentation. This of course puts her emphatically in the jazz camp and that's a good place to be. So, if you hunger for the richest of premiere songwriting and you want those songs interpreted by a quality singer who certainly cares about her repertoire, you should check out Lili Maljic.

Pacific Coast Records; 2025; appx 50 min.

Sam Dillon; My Ideal

If you're into big toned, full throttle tenor sax players, I think Sam Dillon may well be your man. He holds nothing back on a collection split between Dillon's high flying original compositions and familiar fare like “Have You Met Miss Jones”, “I Love You”, “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”, and the title tune, “My Ideal”. Dillon's quartet includes David Hazeltine, piano; Alexander Claffy, bass; and Rodney Green, drums. They are all pin point perfect in support of the leader. If the phrase “no holds barred” describes your preference among tenor sax players, you need to get acquainted with Sam Dillon.

Cellar Music; 2025; appx. 58 min.

The Diva Jazz Orchestra; Tappin' Thru Life: A Celebration Of Maurice Hines

Here is a celebratory, fun loving, all female jazz orchestra featuring various singers on foot tapping, smile inducing, feel good music. The swinging ensemble is right out of the big band era. There are no less than eighteen selections here and you'll know most of them. For example, how about “Get Me To The Church on Time”, “It's Only A Paper Moon”, “Smile”,” All The Way”, “Too Marvelous For Words”, and even “Ballin' The Jack”. Everybody's having more fun here than the law should allow. No doubt you'll feel that way too! 

Self produced; 2025; appx. 70 min.

ANSWERS TO GEORGE'S QUIZ:

1. Good Morning Heartache
2. Willow Weep For Me
3. Miss Brown To You
4. God Bless The child
5. My Man
6. Strange Fruit
7. Travelin' Light
8. What A Little moonlight Can Do
9. Easy Living
10. I Cried For You

Billy Lester Trio; High Standards

For most of twenty-eight years I hosted a jazz radio program here in Portland, Oregon. It was called “High Standards”, so you can understand my delight in receiving this album for review. Pianist Billy Lester leads a trio through eight “high standards”and one original by the leader, in a highly creative fashion. Sometimes we are treated to lengthy and impressive improvisation before Lester and friends deliver us the melody. Let's be clear: it's well worth the wait. In addition to Lester's very stirring piano, bassist Marcello Testa and drummer Nicola Stranieri are also right on target throughout. As for Lester, he is somewhere out of Bud Powell. Greatly imaginative and unique, he really propels us into new musical spheres on “Somebody Loves Me”, “I'll Remember April”, “You Go To My Head”, “Just Friends”, and more. This is a different take on these great American “hits”. But it's the real deal. It's well performed and full of fascinating flights. This is good stuff!

Ultra Sound Records; 2025; appx. 45 min.

Spike Wilner Trio; Contrafactus: The Children & The Warlock

This is probably pianist Spike Wilner's most adventurous recording yet as he digs in on six original compositions and one jazz gem, “Theme For Ernie”. His talented and exciting trio becomes a quartet with its addition of the legendary tenor from the renowned Berklee College Of Music, George Garzone. Wilner's writing is intriguing, dense, and is often in challenging, ripping tempos. Garzone takes it all on his shoulders like the champion he is. One might say that this is material for the seasoned jazz listener but it may be a bit “out there” for the newcomer to jazz. There's no denying that this is a new side of Spike Wilner. It might put you to the test, but it deserves to be heard. You be the judge. [other two trio members]

Cellar Music Group; 2025; appx. 49 min.