Elissa

Bemsha Swing among the sexiest.

Unfortunately not. He played it for me soon after it was recorded.

Roy, to my mind the swingingest trumpet player around, intended this record to be a big, bad Texas funk album, which he's right, the world could use. However I don't think it was a unqualified success on those terms, as it was pretty thoroughly bleached of alot of its formidable groove by producers frightened by how actually badd Roy is. Seemed to me they dumbed down what could have been a booming cruise disc, great driving and dance music, in fear of his being ostracized from the jazz community. It sounded so different and so great before it was mixed beyond recognition - and still, Roy is one of the few musicians making such valiant attempts to both bring real music to hip hop sensibilities and danceable groove to those who insist on musicians playing instruments. I hope he gives it another go. Seeing him on tour for this album was a grand occasion - in NY he and all the band played up at the Apollo, opening for Maceo, and it was a killing show. Prince was there and brought Maceo out his horn.

I remember first hearing him round about 15 years ago in Elvin's band and thinking that he wasn't playing much, but what a name. However in the last five years I've heard him a number of times live and have been only impressed at the giant strides he'd made in terms of developing his own voice and chops and feel and time; he'd really come into his own and sounded like one of the best tenor players on the block. However I caught him just a couple weeks ago at the Zinc and had the feeling that I was not really hearing art so much as yet another speedy but too standard jazz gig; nothing that moved me in an otherwise quite competent set.

An Organissimo search for this young phenom turned up only one mention - of Eric on the LCJO Ornette program - which seems odd to me as I think he's the swingingest pianist of his generation. Anyone ever catch him in Elvin's bands? No matter who else was in the Machine, Eric and Elvin were so much on the same plane as to be playing duets and render anyone else on stage all but inconsequential. Not many ppl on any instrument of that caliber these days. Which isn't to dis the many wonderful pianists you can see any night in NYC - I'm quite content indeed to hear Jason Moran, James Hurt, Brad Meldau, Jason Lindner, Uri Caine, Jacky Terrasson and several others. Eric Reed, Marcus Roberts, Bill Charlap and that big religious fellow hold less interest for me. Yet none lift a stage and its audience higher that does Lewis. It'd seem he's quit his gig with Lincoln Ctr to concentrate on his own band and is back to Monday night hits at Cleopatra's needle, a gig always worth the trek up Bway. Lewis' style may hark most to Tatum's, but from the first note he plays, his voice rings always unmistakably his own. I've often been at jam sessions where the second Lewis sets down at the keys, the vibe in the room recalibrates around him.

Brian Blade may well be a genius but I'd prefer to listen & feel Willie Jones (especially of course with Roy) or to watch Terry Lynne anyday. She is a baddass & last time I saw her band, Scott Colley - one of the swingingest, sexiest bass player ever - was with her too. On the other hand it always seemed to me Pattitucci couldn't swing from a rope. Somehow that was what HH and Wayne wanted for a while - NOT to swing. Yet even with that rhythm section Wayne of course still never sounded anything but great.

And Trumpet as well... It's a different Avishai Cohen that plays trumpet actually...or is that what your wink meant? Though the bassist Avishai's friend Amos Hoffman plays killing oud & guitar. Jay Collins plays tenor, soprano and all manner of flute - often at the same time a la Rahsaan, and not at all in a cheesy fashion - & he sings. Has anyone mentioned the countless things James Carter plays? Art Blakey started out as a pianist, but then many drummers play (well!) and compose on piano. and to reverse that: Eric Lewis, my favorite young pianist, plays the drums with total independence. hi btw, my first post