Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro: The New Jersey Sessions
Sean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro: The New Jersey Sessions
ByThe session opens with a Charlie Parker bop line "Dewey Square," a contrafact based on the chord changes of George Gershwin's composition "Oh, Lady Be Good." The band is at home navigating the complex harmonies and rhythms. Monteiro, well-known for his technical prowess, manages the bebop elements with a dedication to his craft. Trumpeter Sipiagin takes full advantage of his solo space with rippling assurance. The wonderful Billy Eckstine ballad "I Want To Talk About You" is given a warm reading by Hong, as he pays homage to the John Coltrane version recorded in 1958 for the album Soultrane on Prestige Records. While no-one compares Hong to Coltrane, he is a saxophonist with possibilities.
The inclusion of Houston Person on a couple of tracks is a highlight which adds a layer of depth and authenticity to the album. Person's rich, warm tone and bluesy phrasing are immediately recognizable in "When Sunny Gets Blue" and "Bag's Groove," elevating the overall musical experience. In the former number, Hong and Person trade 8 bar solos, a lesson in sound improvisation strategy as Person imparts the importance of song texts as a key to the piece's meaning and a signpost for their improvisation. On the latter number, a Milt Jackson composition, the blues elements are front and center. This is Person's wheelhouse, and Hong does his best to hang in, with his own distinct voice. Monteiro delivers a solo which is both soulful and technically precise.
The closer is the Duke Ellington signature piece "Sophisticated Lady," which is a duet interpretation with Monteiro and Hong. The interplay between the two players is particularly noteworthy as they display a remarkable synergy that propels the number forward, captured in one take.
Track Listing
Dewey Square; A Weaver Of Dreams; I Want To Talk About You; Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You; When Sunny Gets Blue; Out Of Nowhere; Bag's Groove; Life Goes On; Sophisticated Lady.
Personnel
Jeremy Monteiro
pianoSean Hong Wei
saxophone, tenorHouston Person
saxophone, tenorAlex Sipiagin
trumpetJay Anderson
bassEvan Sherman
drumsAlbum information
Title: The New Jersey Sessions | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Jazznote Records
Comments
Tags
Sean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro
Album Review
Pierre Giroux
Mouthpiece Music
The New Jersey Sessions
Jazznote Records
jeremy monteiro
Sean Hong Wei
Houston Person
Alex Sipiagin
Jay Anderson
Evan Sherman
Charlie Parker
Billy Eckstine
John Coltrane
Milt Jackson
duke ellington
For the Love of Jazz
![Get the Jazz Near You newsletter](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/2010/59f4fe0f64fdc2f368647dfd22f6686c.jpg)