Widely known and appreciated in Europe, Hod O’Brien, a straight-ahead bebop pianist, had been one of the best kept secrets on the US Jazz scene. Here he delights the audience with this live trio performance with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington. Originally planning to record only one CD, he ended up recording enough material to fill two CDs during two his performances at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. on July 6th and 7th, 2004. This is the first set.
" On its first “live” recording, Boston’s most acclaimed little big band shows off the energy and groove that had made them local heroes. Joined by tenor sax late great George Adams, Orange Then Blue burns its way through over 70 minutes of music chosen from recent club and concert dates and recorded digitally. Where Were You? features music of Charles Mingus, Paul Motian, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk (including the “scary” version of “Friday the Thirteenth“) and George Garzone."
"French Jazz saxophonist and composer Geraldine Laurent began her studies on piano but switched to saxophone around at 13. After receiving her jazz D.E.M. diploma and master's in musicology, she began performing with her own group as well as a wide array of musicians. Formidable, as her compatriots would say. Time Out Trio, her debut album, introduces a bare knuckle force, well-versed in the jazz tradition but not afraid to put her own abandoned spin on it by among others reinventing the standards and hidden masterpieces by Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman and Wayne Shorter .... "
New York tenor man Jerry Weldon is featured in his second live recording at SMOKE along with Kyle Koehler at the Hammond Organ and Jason Brown on Drums.