I heard these 2 live at the Litchfield Jazz Festival (located in Kent, CT) & I thought, “what talent!” They were joined by Ted Rosenthal-piano & Alvin Atkinson-drums (who I have had lessons with). Before all this, they made a CD. After hearing them live, I rushed out & bought the CD (& even got it signed) with out knowing what I was doing. The musicians for the CD as I found out are: Jay-bass/vocals; Wycliffe-trombone (which he hardly uses), didjeridoo (whatever that is), tuba; Wayne Escoffrey (I saw him perform recently)-sax 7; Harry Allen-sax 9 & Jim Saporito-percussion 11. I was disheartened by the little trombone usage, the lack of drums & piano & the choice of tuba for this CD. I do not recommend buying this CD but if you can hear them live, I STRONGLY recommend that you DO!
Rating: 2 / 5

In the vein of the great collaborations between Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg, trombonist Gordon ( best known as a a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra) and bassist extraordinaire Leonhart (who seems to be playing string bass on nearly every great new jazz release) are having a ball on this CD. With six songs by the very funny Leonhart and four by Gordon (plus Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” , an Eddie Harris tune and “Lester Young’s “Lester Leaps In”) you can tell they had fun making this disc. Except for three selections, it’s just the two musicians, using overdubs on some tracks (so you can hear Gordon sing as well as play his trombone). There’s lots of scatting going on and “I want My Blooz (a Gordon composition) really swings. “Little Henry” (A Leonhart comp) has Gordon moving to Tuba and giving the number a New Orleans Brass Band Beat. But he plays Trombone on that track as well! Oh yes, I forgot Gordon plays the Australian didgeridoo on the Harris number. Leonhart’s tribute to his idol, bassist Ray Brown, even incorporates a “voice mail” message from Brown himself.

Again, if you like your jazz with fun and have the Dorough/Frishberg CDs, check this one out. I loved it!

Steve Ramm “In The Groove”

Rating: 5 / 5