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Jordan Young: Jazz Jukebox
ByJazz Jukebox is exactly what you'd expect, both based on the title and what drummer Jordan Young cooked up on his first two albumsJordan Young Group (Self Produced, 2010) and Cymbal Melodies (Posi-Tone, 2012). It's a diverse program built on sharp and concise arrangements of jazz and pop nuggets. Everything from Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning" to Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle" and Hugh Masekela's "Son Of Ice Bag" to Charles Ira Fox's campy "Love Boat" makes it into the mix, and nothing overstays its welcome. The longest tracks don't even crack the four-and-a-half minute mark.
Young keeps things moving here, largely focusing on upbeat material pulled from different corners of the music world. He nods to Larry Young with a performance of the organist's jaunty "Paris Eyes," gets his sloshy hi-hat going for a spell on The Beatles' "I'm Only Sleeping," prods organist Brian Charette and guitarist Matt Chertkoff during their solos on Wayne Shorter's "ESP," and trades with glee on "Tadd's Delight." If that's not enough variety, there's also Charette's "Giant Deconstruction," an odd-metered, ascending twist on John Coltrane's "Giant Steps"; Jimmy Smith's soulful and bluesy "Eight Counts For Rita," one of four numbers to bring tenor saxophonist Nick Hempton into play; and Chertkoff's arrangement of "Will You Still Be Mine," a caffeinated brush feature for the leader.
In choosing to work with Charette and Chertkoff, Young capitalizes on musical relationships that have been fostered over a long stretch of timebasically week in, week out at Tribeca's Authentic Bar B Flat and other New York haunts. Due to those bandstand-forged connections, this crew is incredibly comfortable in its own skin. That's something that tends to cut both ways. On the positive side, it makes for a strong team mindset in the music. All the stops, turns, and hits are incredibly tight. The group chemistry also fuels solid groove expressionsswinging, samba-esque, and soulful at different turnswhich carry the music forward. The downside with the musical amity between these men is that it sometimes leaves the music wanting for more heat and/or friction. The band occasionally feels too comfortable. But is that really a problem? For most listeners, probably not. Those who dig the idea of sundry selections served up by a bright and polished trio fronted by an articulate drummer will be happy as can be when spinning Jordan Young's Jazz Jukebox.
Track Listing
Son Of Ice Bag; Paris Eyes; I'm Only Sleeping; Sao Paulo Nights; ESP; Eight Counts For Rita; Rhythm-A-Ning; Time In A Bottle; Tadd's Delight; Giant Deconstruction; I Want A Little Girl; Love Boat; Will You Still Be Mine.
Personnel
Jordan Young
drumsJordan Young: drums; Matt Chertkoff: guitar; Brian Charette: organ; Nick Hempton: tenor saxophone (2, 4, 6, 9).
Album information
Title: Jazz Jukebox | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records