Take 5

Time Out Take Five is a seasonal jazz column by Doug Collette.

Jason Moran & Bandwagon/Ten (Blue Note): Pianist Jason Moran and his Bandwagon trio are busy from the very outset of this CD and that’s a reflection of the ambitious career

Damian Erskine/To Speak (Independent): Alternately rollicking and reflective, Damien Erskine and his band  sound much larger than just a quintet plus horns and percussion here.  Whether it’s guitarist  Chris Mosley

Christian McBride & Inside Straight,  Mike Mainieri-Marnix Bussier Quartet & more

The overall simplicity of approach within Si o Si may be the key: their ideas, whether structured or spontaneous, constitute the crystallization of their individual and collective experience within this group and without (each member has extensive history and current work outside this ensemble). Put this on "Best of 2009' list now!

Five more shotgun jazz CD reviews by Glide contributor Doug Collette – this month he visits: Branford Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Bernstein, Bill Evans.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Avatar (Blue Note) ***1/2: The Cuban pianist has ventured into a variety of stylistic realms both contemporary and traditional during the course of his career, but he sounds as

Time Out Take Five lets Glide contributor Doug Collette takes a pick at five recent jazz releases,

Released under the aegis of The Concord Music Group, this ongoing series of titles depicts Keepnews, to this day a man of discerning ear and literate mind, in the roles of fan, label founder and record producer.  As a visionary strategist and one of the staunchest supporters this music has ever known, he, like the best of these CDs  reflects the vigor and imagination of the art itself.