Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Please excuse my absence for the past few weeks. My wife insisted that I have a complete physical exam, a couple of matters indicated the possibility of cancer, but subsequent procedures gave me a clean bill of health.

Now it's back to listening to the latest music and there are some good ones worth time on your ears.

A relative newcomer to the jazz recording scene is the label called MaxJazz, headquartered in St. Louis. All of their releases have spotlighted little-known performers, each bursting onto the scene with music that should please jazz fans of every sort.

The newest release is from Steve Wilson, who plays the hell out of the alto and soprano saxophones. Wilson's debut for MaxJazz is titled "Soulful Song" and it should climb up the jazz charts rapidly. Wilson manages to play a wonderful alto, but he reaches new levels with this work on the difficult, tough to master soprano saxophone.

The sound of the soprano, in the wrong hands, might lead you to search the front closet for earmuffs. But Wilson pulls a great, always lyrical, never screeching tone that will haven 99.6 percent of listeners smile instead of cringle.

"Soulful Song" packs a punch with brilliant turns by some of MaxJazz's singing artists, including the spectacular Carla Cook, and the sublime Rene Marie, the intriguing soul sounds of Philip Manuel. The superb Bruce Barth handles piano and Fender Rhodes, while Ed Howard fills the bill on the bass. Paul Bollenback plays acoustic and electric guitar. James Genus performs on the electric bass, while Adam Cruz acquits himself admirably on drums and percussion. Billy Kilson sits behind the drum kit and Wilson "Chembo" Cornell also lends strength on percussion.

Most of the song titles will be new to you, including a delightful number written by Chick Corea and Nelville Potter, entitled "You're Everything." There's an absolutely stunning version of Patrice Rushen's "Wishful Thinking."

At nearly 72 minutes of great music, "Soulful Song" should please not only jazz fans but also should speak to those who enjoy beautiful music played with soul and sincerity. This one should wind up on many lists as one of the absolute best CDs of the year.

Fabulous Ted Nash

The publicity material that accompanies the new release by saxophonist Ted Nash observes that this horn man has been around for two decades, always playing with the greats, including such names as Lionel Hampton (when Nash was just 16) and Wynton Marsalis. Now on the Palmetto Records label, Nash makes a huge splash in the waters of today's jazz with a brilliant new album called "Still Evolved."

Here's a musician who will attract the new fans of jazz, while knocking the ears off those who've been listening to jazz all their lives. Nash has caught attention from the New York Times, who called him a musician "with almost classical sense of control," while Gary Giddins wrote in the Village Voice that Nash is "a first class saxophonist."

I've kept this album on my turntable for a couple of weeks and multiple playing hasn't served to downgrade my opinion. Here's a musician who knows his stuff and plays with a soulful flavor when necessary and can knock your ears back on the good'uns.

The new release, "Just Evolved," should knock the socks off jazz fans everywhere. Nash has thorough control of his tenor saxophone, tackling up-tempo tunes with complete confidence and moving to the soul-shaking numbers with confidence and a bit of the smart-ass included.

Wynton Marsalis,who has become one of the best-known trumpet players on today's scene, sits in with the Nash band for four of the eight compositions. Marsalis isn't one of my favorite musicians, but he seems invigorated for this date and his trumpet can't help but run a few shivers right up your back.

The hot New York drummer, Matt Wilson, adds his special drumming to the affair and Wilson remains one of those busy percussionists whose dexterity will knock you out.

"Still Evolved" will soon become a favorite CD for everyone who's adventurous enough to buy a copy. Play it 20 times and it will sound just as good as it did when it first was placed on the turntable. This is a superb album and you should give it a listen.

"Fathead" Newman Soars

Some musicians never seem to receive the big break which separate them from the also-rans. While no one would ever call David "Fathead" Newman one the anonymous other guys who play the saxophone, it would be somewhat difficult to list Newman as one of the big boys of today's jazz.

Newman, who was born in 1933, has been making music for a very long time. Over the years, he worked in bands headed by blues stars such as Lowell Fulson and King Curtis. He also worked with Ornette Coleman and for many years was in the crack bands led by Ray Charles.

At age 70, Newman is not likely to become an overnight success. But it cannot be denied that Newman plays with requisite skill three of the wind instruments: flute, alto and tenor saxophones. Newman's latest album on the High Note label finds him in excellent form, playing with easy skill and proficiency on all three of the instruments he mastered so long ago.

"The Gift" is an album that provides eight outstanding renditions of both originals, with Newman supported by a crack band consisting of John Hicks on piano, Bryan Carrott on vibes, Buster Williams on bass and Winard Harper playing drums.

Most of the tunes belong in the jazz category, but there's a touch of superb blues to be heard in Newman's treatments of "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying," and the wonderful "Unchain My Heart."

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 oldbob@localnet.com.

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