Kenny Carr, Idle Talk

Kenny Carr? A guitarist of the electric persuasion, in the jazz camp and well-situated there as a real player after Berklee, ten years with Ray Charles, and now a burgeoning solo career. Idle Talk (Zoozazz Music) is not his first album. There are several others I am afraid I have missed. But what matters is that this one comes at you with a good band, a sound, and guitar playing that is smart, contemporary, yet rooted.

He is joined on the new one by Donny McCaslin on sax, a player who has steadily gained steam and is up there in the ranks of players in the new mainstream. Kenny Wollesen drums swingingly and nicely. And Hans Glawischnig moves along well as a sophisticated bassist who digs into the material, solos well when called upon and adds much.

The program is a set of well-hewn originals by Carr in the post-hardbop earthy mode. They set the stage for some excellent soloing from Carr and McCaslin.

Kenny Carr has schooled his good instincts for a potent guitar sound that has soul, boppish roots and a fine sense of solo weaving. He and Donny never flag for ideas.

Idle Talk satisfies on many levels. It's a great band effort, the tunes hit home, McCaslin says his say well and, most importantly, Kenny Carr comes across as a real player, a plectrician of ideas and soulfulness

Guitarist Torben Waldorff Waxes Lyrical and Then Turns It Up A Bit on "American Rock Beauty"

Now I have not heard Torben Waldorff's other albums, but American Rock Beauty (Artist Share 0102) has a particular way about it that is not entirely the usual. There are some rock-fusion numbers, and a countified tune, but where everything gets interesting to my mind is on the lyrical end of things.

The band is quite solid. Young tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin has a fluid and limber presence which distinguishes the album. Torben Waldorff puts this album in a specially good place through his singing-melodic-harmonic writing and the ringing lyricism of his guitar. He sometimes sounds Abercrombie-esque and he certainly has facility, but the times when he gets bell-like sustain and weaves beautifully expressive solos (like for example on the title cut) are times when he stands out.

Those moments are well worth the price of admission! You can only get this CD directly from Torben at his site www.waldorff.com. Go there and check out the details if you are interested. He makes for worthy listening.