Sean
Hong Wei (tenor sax); Jeremy Monteiro (piano); Jay Anderson (bass); Evan
Sherman (drums) + Alex Sipiagin (trumpet tks 1 & 8); Houston Person (tenor
sax on tks 5 & 7).
I'm a bit behind on this one, it came out on May 31 and marks Monteiro's 48th album in a career that has seen him teamed up with a host of jazz luminaries including James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts which suggests he has a particular affinity with saxophone players, an affinity testified to by this particular album.
He originally teamed up with Hong Wei in their native Singapore and, after the tenor player settled in NYC, frequently met up and eventually recorded The New Jersey Sessions in ex Dizzy Gillespie bassist John Lee's Alleycat studio.
It's not a groundbreaking album (thank goodness!) but a nice laid back session that breathes new life into the tried and tested plus a Monteiro original.
The old Charlie Parker number Dewey Square has Sipiagin guesting on trumpet giving the quintet a boppy groove that puts both band and (this) listener at ease. A Weaver of Dreams is ballad playing par excellence with warm and gentle solos by tenor, piano and bass that entwine themselves around your heartstrings.
More balladic beauty with I Want to Talk About You, Nothing Ever Changes my Love For You and When Sunny Gets Blue. The latter tune features Person on tenor, his fuller sound offers a contrast to Hong Wei's drier, more modern sound. There's room for both of them when they combine on Bag's Groove.
Out of Nowhere has a relaxed Latin feel to it and the heartstrings are tugged at once more on Monteiro's tribute to his late father, Life Goes On. Sipiagin helps out with an effective trumpet solo.
Saving the best till last, the two leaders duet on Sophisticated Lady. This is as good as it gets this side of the Cotton Club. Although blowing tenor, Hong Wei brings Hodges' alto to mind in feel if not in sound. For his part Monteiro adds just enough Duke to almost fool the listener that it is the real McCoy - almost!
Well worth checking out. Lance.
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