Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Ruby Braff’s new CD, “I Hear Music” (Arbors Records) will leave more than music in the listeners’ ears. The venerable cornet genius, now into his 70s, shows no decline in his ability to play music as sweet as fresh corn just plucked out of the family garden. The outing shows Braff in a calm and deliberate mode, lovingly playing his cornet through a program of seven carefully selected tunes.

Critics have dubbed Braff the most knowledgeable jazz dramatist of American song. When the disc hits the turntable, there’s no doubt when it’s Braff running the show. His sound continues to be unique, breathy and sometimes sinuous, lively and sometimes filled with of a sense of humor. It doesn’t matter about the song selected for analysis. Braff comes forth with his best effort with every track. “I Hear Music” will please his sturdy crowd of admirers and should entice new members of the Braff Bunch when jazz radio begins to air cuts from this scintillating and soothing collection.

Braff joined the Arbors stable of artists eight years ago, with the fine album called “Live at the Regattabar.” One writer dubbed it “nothing short of classic.” Over the years since then, Braff has kept busy with new titles, including “Ruby Braff and Dick Hyman Play Nice Tunes” and “Ruby Braff: You Can Depend on Me.” The latter won best-of-the-year plaudits from critics such as Gary Giddins and John Norris.

In the new album, Braff has assembled a dynamic group of fellow performers. Bill Charlap has long been recognized as one of the top pianists in all of jazz. He gets time here to defend his title. Speaking of the world’s best, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli wins the top spot for many knowledgeable jazz aficionados.

The truly awesome Tommy Newsom, best remembered as the clownish tenor sax player and backup leader of the Doc Severinsen "Tonight Show" Band, again shows that his chops compare favorably with the most famous names in jazz or swing. If you require proof, plenty exists in “I Hear Music.”

Bassist John Beal and drummer Tony DeNicola round out the group, and crackerjack vocalist Daryl Sherman steps in for the vocal on Braff’s song, “We’re All Through.”

One of the most appealing aspects of the CD is the ample time allowed for the songs. The soloists get to turn loose and show why they’ve garnered high praise over the years.

The album opens with over 11 minutes of the title song. It’s a perfect launch for what proves to be smooth sailing all the way to the last note. A Chicago medley of “Chicago Is” and “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is) runs for almost 14 minutes, with never a hint of filling time.

“Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home” ambles along nicely and clocks in at more than seven minutes. The coltish “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” from “My Fair Lady” seems better than ever when played by Braff and boys at a delicious eight-plus minutes. “Yesterdays,” the venerable Harbach-Kern ballad is another eight minutes of ear candy. “(I Would Do) Anything for You” sounds brilliant at nearly seven minutes.

The set winds up with vocalist Daryl Sherman working on Braff’s creation called “We’re All Through.”

“I Hear Music” should garner lots of playing time at homes of discerning listeners for months, if not years to come.

Odd Trio Proves Pleasing

Not too many times will you come across of a trio consisting of bassist, clarinetist (sometimes subbing the tenor saxophone) and drummer. That’s what you get with the Michael Moore Trio’s new release ”The History of Jazz, Volume Two: Dedications” (Arbors Records).

Despite the awkward title, bassist Moore and compatriots have made a disc that definitely deserves a wide assortment of jazz-based listeners. Moore, a native of Cincinnati, left his hometown at age 20 to join the Woody Herman Band. A couple of years later, he began to work and record with Marian McPartland. Over the years Moore has worked with many of the best, including Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz and Chet Baker. The past couple of years he has toured with Dave Brubeck.

Ken Peplowski has international acclaim as a clarinetist. He also performs with aplomb on the tenor saxophone for this very interesting collection. Tom Melito is a drummer who knows when to lay back and when to step to the edge of the stage.

The word “dedications” in the title refers to Moore’s salutes to musicians he has admired. The first track, Cannonball Adderley’s “Wabash” gets the album off on sure footing. The dedications include a number of Moore’s compositions, such as “Jimmy Rowles,” “Mr. Brubeck,” “Cave of the Heart for Bill Evans,” “Shorter Tale For Wayne Shorter,” “Tom: For Antonio Carlos Jobim” and “Herbie Nichols.”

The remaining tracks are apt demonstrations concerning jazz history. They include “My Shining Hour,” “Cherokee,” to Billy Strayhorn compositions, “Triple Play,” and “Ballade for Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus.”

Despite misgivings about the makeup of Moore’s group, “Dedications” turns out to be a keeper.

‘Dreaming of Home’

Mighty, mighty nice. That’s my comment after my first hearing of Peter Neri’s second solo guitar album, “Dreaming of Home” (New Guitar Music).

Neri plays the acoustic guitar and he does so with confidence and a commendable reticence to show off his chops. This mellow collection of a baker’s dozen of Neri’s own compositions demonstrates that he’s a man who has the talent to dazzle, but the good taste to merely play in a manner that should win listeners over a wide range of the population.

Neri, who lives in Vermont, dedicates the album to the joys and pains of raising children from birth to their individual independence. The titles reflect a musician with a sense of humor as well as ten gifted fingers. Songs include “Julia and Geena Go to the Circus,” “The Rise and Fall of ThePolka.com” and “Pizza Delivery.”

Neri promises all proceeds from the album “will be donated to relief organizations, charities and other causes.”

For ordering information go to www.newguitarmusic.com.

Bob Powers always is interested in hearing from record distributors who deal in jazz, rock, folk, and anything that's good. For instructions on getting your album reviewed, contact him at rpow123@charter.net.

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