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Recent Recordings by Area MusiciansBY PIOTR MICHALOWSKI Tenor
and soprano saxophonist Steve
Wood has been a prominent member of the Detroit scene for many
years, but he is not well represented on recordings. He has more than
made up for it with Deep Woods (CORD
SWCD 3342-2). The
sax man is joined by some of the finest players from Michigan: Paul Keller
on bass, Chris Collins teaches
jazz at Wayne State
and plays quite a bit in Detroit and surrounding areas. On his latest
CD [ Chris Collins Quartet, Urban Solitude (Harriet Jazz
HJ 002, 810-752-2935)
] he is joined by Dennis Tini on piano, Ray Pianist Dennis Tini
comes to the fore on his own recording, Time Will Tell (Nicoletini
NTM The late Bill Dowdy
was for many years a mainstay of the Battle Creek jazz scene, playing
with local and visiting musicians, teaching in university jazz programs,
and running a well-known substance-abuse prevention program in the Dave Usher's name has long
been associated with jazz in Detroit. Although he now runs a successful
business in town, in his youth he ran a record company in concert with
Dizzy Gillespie. DeeGee Records did not last long, but quite a
few famous dates came out under the name of the label, including those
by Dizzy and Milt Jackson. In 1956, when Gillespie took his resurrected
big band on a State Department tour of South America, the trumpet player
asked his old friend to come along and record some of the concerts.
From the same era comes Yusef Lateef: The Last Savoy Sessions (Savoy Jazz 92881-2),
with I N - T H I S - I S S U E : |
001,
248-476-1436), in duet with Collins. This time the compositions are by
the pianist, with a Brubeck standard and two Collins pieces added in.
There is a broad range of styles represented here, from very slow ballads
to burning swingers. Brubeck is represented not only by the opening "In
Your Own Sweet Way," but also by means of an only slightly disguised "All
the Things You Are," under the title "Bach's Things," which is really
a reflex of the way the famous pianist used to play the Kern piece. The
whole disc is a fine example of musical empathy; two highly accomplished
musicians who know each other well work in tandem but also do their best
to provide some surprises along the way. 
community.
He was best known, however, for the years he spent on the road with The
Three Sounds. He made many recordings with the famous trio, but has not
been well represented on recordings since then. His last recording put
out to date is Bill Dowdy Jazz Trio plus Dee Dee McNeil, Live! at
the Discovery Theatre (Deee Square Records). The CD captures a
hometown concert during which Claude Black joined the drummer on piano,
and Elgin Vines on bass, and, on most numbers, by singer Dee Dee McNeil.
The trio pieces are relaxed and swinging, somewhat reminiscent of the
style of Dowdy's best known trio, but pianist Black has his own style
of bluesy bop that differs from the funky stylings of Gene Harris, who
played in the Three Sounds. When McNeil joins the trio, the heat comes
up a notch, as she likes to dig into songs and gets sassy fairly soon.
All four musicians love to swing and at this concert they were at the
top of their game. 
After
more than forty years on the shelf, these exceptional performances are
now available on two compact discs: Dizzy in South America
(Red Anchor, 2 volumes, 
reissues
of about half of Lateef's classic recordings for the label. These are
exceptional recordings by any standards, and it is good to have them back
in circulation. Lateef's mighty tenor, flute and oboe are joined by Bernard
McKinney, euphonium, Terry Pollard and Hugh Lawson, piano, Bill Austin
and Ernie Farrow, bass, and Frank Gant and Oliver Jackson, drums. It is
particularly gratifying to be reminded again of the fine piano playing
of Terry Pollard. Herb Boyd provides some excellent liner notes.