Stan Getz/Chet Baker: Quintessence Volume 2 (Concord)
This, the last known recording of Getz and Baker together, is previously unreleased material from their 1983 European tour. Recorded in Norway the day after their superb Stockholm concert (available as a three-CD set on Verve) it's in the same class. Some of the material, naturally, is common to both concerts, but with Getz magisterial, Baker lyrically holding his own and the rhythm section of Jim McNeely, George Mraz and Victor Lewis responsive and inspiring, this doesn't matter. What's also remarkable is that, despite Getz's despicable behaviour towards Baker on tour (he eventually got him fired), none of these offstage differences is evident in the music, which is at times sublime. This is one to cherish.
- Ray Comiskey
Tommy Newsom/Ken Peplowski: The Feeling Of Jazz (Arbors Jazz)
The twin tenors of mainstreamers Newsom and Peplowski echo a tradition that goes back to Basie's big bands and elsewhere - Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, Johnny Griffin and Lockjaw Davis, or, more relevantly in this case, the smooth complementary of Zoot Sims and Al Cohn. Peplowski is familiar to Irish audiences - he was here again this week - Newsom much less so; a skilled composer and arranger, he was part of the exceptional big band Benny Goodman once took on a US State department tour to Russia. Aided by a sympathetic rhythm section which includes the excellent pianist, Ben Aronov, they reveal a mutual admiration and influence as they romp through a programme of standards and jazz originals with elegant aplomb.
- Ray Comiskey