Recent Recordings By Area Musicians

BY JIM GALLERT

Terry Lower: Step by Step

Pianist Terry Lower, for many years a mainstay in the late saxophonist Larry Nozero's band, flexes his combo muscles with a seven piece outfit playing originals and unjustly neglected standards. He's joined by drummer Jim Ryan, his section mate from Nozero's band, and other gifted area musicians.

Lower is a swinging pianist who effectively employs silence as well as sound, and he has a good ear for moody standards — "You Don't Know What Love Is," a classic from Earl Hines' bandbook, and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," another nugget, favored by Pres.

The arrangements are good, the horn solos are interesting if not distinguished, and the rhythm section cooks.... Lower, bassist Ray Tini, percussionist Rob Mulligan and Ryan (Larry Ochiltree subbing on three cuts) put the beat "in the pocket" and the music sounds the better for it. Highlights include two fine Lower originals, a reprise of "Harlem Nocturne" in Lower's interesting arrangement featured for years by Larry Nozero, and a burning "Step By Step," another product from Lower's pen. Highly recommended.

Visit Lower's Website for more info or to purchase.

SEMJA encourages local musicians and record companies to send CDs for review for future issues of the UPDATE to: SEMJA, 2385 W. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103-2241.

I N - T H I S - I S S U E :
1. ALMA SMITH AWARDED ---2. JAVON JACKSON
3. RECORD REVIEW ---4. AROUND TOWN
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