With a subtle, appealing sound and often sensuous swing, Jeanie Bryson is at times reminiscent of Maxine Sullivan; at other times Bryson creates the frailness of Astrud Gilberto, or the kittenish charm of Susannah McCorkle. Bryson's likable, easygoing style reflects Peggy Lee's coolness on the new Telarc CD, "Some Cats Know (Jeanie Bryson sings songs of Peggy Lee)," where this confident melody singer is framed by Natalie Cole's cohesive rhythm section. Her ensemble's polish is applied by music director, guitarist John Chiodini.
With 1996's "Number 2 Express" (Verve), McBride was able to reunite Chick Corea and Jack DeJohnette in the recording studio for the first time since the two played together in Miles Davis's 1968 group.
Manifesting strong and expressive bass lines, this natural bandleader generates an economical, articulate walking bass style with voluptuous sound, bone-deep rhythms and a resounding command of the low end of the sonic spectrum. McBride's brawling, raucous ensemble features saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Anthony Wonsey and drummer Carl Allen playing twisty hard bop.
Winner of the 1993 Thelonious Monk Competition, Terrasson has played on tour with jazz giants Betty Carter and Arthur Taylor. Following the 1995 release of his Blue Note debut, "Jacky Terrasson," came a world tour of 150 concerts or club appearances. His current Blue Note recording, "Reach," features bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Leon Parker.
As a high schooler, Payton was championed by Wynton Marsalis, who recalls, "Nicholas is a great musician who was very serious about learning and developing all aspects of jazz musicianship." Payton has since become a regular member of Marsalis's Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and released his critically acclaimed CD "From This Moment On" in 1994. This year, Payton appears as Oran "Hot Lips" Page in Robert Altman's major motion picture "Kansas City." The bright new trumpet star mixes the hard bop influences of Freddie Hubbard and Wynton Marsalis with his New Orleans blues heritage to create a plush, warm sound.
Another cast member from the Altman film, alto saxophonist Jesse Davis, appears with Nicholas Payton in Grand Rapids. Together they create a formidable front-line. Davis just released his sixth CD since 1991, "From Within" (Concord), prompting veteran jazz writer Ira Gitler to observe that Davis plays alto saxophone with very welcome echoes of Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley and even a little bit of Sonny Stitt, but he says, "there's no doubt you're listening to the soul of Jesse Davis." Past Performers in the Series
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