Jeff Parker, Bright Light in Winter

Guitarist Jeff Parker has become the "go-to guy" for modern and avant sessions in Chicago. His new CD Bright Light in Winter (Delmark 2015) helps you understand why. It's a trio of Parker with Chris Lopes on acoustic bass and Chad Taylor on drums. This is his third and it's a good one. The band straddles the line between the acoustic and the electronic in ways that make both ends talk to each other. Both Parker and Lopes make use of a Korg synthesizer for effective atmospheric washes and added texture at selected points. So too they straddle the lines between swinging, creating Afric-American polyrhythmic creative tensions, and flat-out funking out. It all works together. And it all works. Listen to "Occidental," a nice groove in seven that suggests all three at once.

The compositions are effective vehicles for the soloing and Parker gives us a good slather of post-Dunbar-Green bluesy post-bop that can stretch and go into some edginess or stay in the pocket. It's in the tradition and onto the farther borders of it at the same time. Chad Taylor, as always, can whip up a firey drum accompaniment that has the well-paced "smart smoke" of the master he is. Hyland Harris's well conceived liner notes mention Parker's arc soloing dynamics. And as you listen you hear how his solos build effectively, generally hit a peak and wind down.

All of this takes place in a situation where Lopes's bass gives the music that strong fundamental anchorage it demands, whether it be in a harmonic shift or laying down a pattern with style and energy.

There are some excellent rhythmic motifs, some really ear catching written lines and most of all there is the very hot interplay between Parker and Taylor, guitar and drums.

It's a winner all the way. A guitar trio with something to express, a new handle on the in & out tradition. Most definitely recommended.

Tim Siciliano, Dominic Duval, Skip Scott, "JZ Rhythm"

Classic jazz compositions are the order of the day on Jz Rhythm (Kerava Jazz), played classically well. Tim Siciliano is a guitarist's guitarist, Dominic Duval a monster of the contrabass whatever the style, and Skip Scott a swinging drummer who puts a great spin on the "rhythm" of the title in the best sort of way.

The music? It's an A list of the art of jazz tunes. There are great choices--some prize Metheny (Question and Answer, Bright Sized Life, Waltz), Wayne Shorter (Yes and No, Iris), Herbie Hancock (Tell Me A Bedtime Story), Chick Corea (Windows), Benny Golson (Along Came Betty), Atilla Zoller (Struwwelpeter), Victor Feldman (Joshua) and McCoy Tyner (Search for Peace).

Of course it's not enough to get a great list of vehicles to improvise on and around. And this is where things kick in. This is a date that emphasizes the blowing. The changes and motifs are utilized as you might expect. Dominic is a pleasure to hear in this context--not one he is often featured in in recent times. Just listening to him is to listen to the art of jazz bass--his way with the changes, walking or doing some very hip things within the song structures, and soloing with power and fire. Tim Siciliano is a guitarist who has impeccable chordal and line building credentials--he sounds great and seems endlessly inventive, a classic stylist who manages to avoid sounding like any particular forebear. And the swinging time and nice solo work of Skip Scott makes sure that this session gets where it needs to and stays there.

This is a release, as I understand it, that is available privately only, on Kerava Jazz's website www.jazznirvana.us. It's a beautiful set so don't hesitate. Hear their way with "Joshua" and you'll know why you came to this music!