This section of Open Sky Jazz will focus periodically on recommended to highly recommended recordings from the vast universe of independent jazz and related recordings, including CDs and DVDs. Today's digital technology, coupled with the shrinking field of jazz record labels - not to mention the major record label's having largely abdicated the throne of jazz -- has enabled and forced a growing legion of artists to record and distribute their own recorded product. Add to that the diminishing 4-wall retail record marketplace and the fact that so many artists are finding fatter returns on their investment by selling their recordings over the internet and on the gig (sans restrictive record company contractual regulations), and its not difficult to see why there are so many do-it-yourself artists out here today.

THE INDEPENDENT EAR will be a periodic Open Sky Jazz feature that will not only provide capsule viewpoints on independent jazz and related recordings, we'll also rate how they stack up in terms of such marketplace essentials as consumer accessibility - i.e. whether proper contact information is provided - packaging considerations and such important and often overlooked aspects as whether the packaging reflects adequate information about the given recording to meet the needs of writers, radio, and consumers.

A recent example to illustrate one of these points came when I gave a spin to a very fine independent jazz recording that an otherwise exceptional composer had provided me with at an IAJE conference. As often happens at WPFW (89.3 FM Washington, DC) when our listeners want information on what they just heard (usually of the "what's that, and where can I get it?" variety) they simply call the studio line and programmers respond. This particular artist's recording drew several such inquiring minds. Much to my chagrin, after searching and searching the disc and the CD booklet I couldn't .come up with any useful contact info - no phone number, address, web site, email address, not even a suitable label name that one could investigate on the web. And given the nature of jazz radio these days, a significant number of programmers spin their own libraries on air. Some - yours truly included - choose not to tote around loads of plastic jewel cases and instead use those convenient CD booklet holders, sans plastic, with the disc and booklet only. As a result it is now essential that all pertinent CD information be listed not only on the back panel of the jewel case but either within the CD booklet or imprinted on the disc itself. So these vital elements will be graded as part of our consideration.

Please note: ALL grades are strictly for the "Info factor" NOT the music.

Welcome to...
The Independent Ear
Willard Jenkins

Greg Abate
Evolution
IWS
Multi-saxophonist Greg Abate, toting the principle sax family members - soprano, alto, tenor and bari - plus flute brings the fire accompanied by such encouraging sonic partners as the late James Williams on piano, bassist Harvie S, and drummer Billy Hart. He quite aptly refers to them as "The Trio Excellante" and as leader he adroitly switches horns, mid-tune in some cases, and that's no mean feat as demonstrated on his swap of alto for tenor on the opening piece. Throughout Abate demonstrates a palpable sense of sheer elation that makes for a contagious listen.

Info Factor: Email address, management contact info, publicist, and even cover designer info clearly marked on the booklet; includes informative liner notes by Ken Franckling. No track listing on disc itself. abatebop@juno.com (B)

Ahmed Abdullah's Dispersions of the Spirit of Ra
Traveling the Spaceways
Planet Arts
Ahmed Abdullah, a veteran space voyager from Sun Ra's Arkestra, celebrates those journeys here and in as true to the spirit of Ra as anyone since the master's ascendance to ancestry. The disc actually feels like you're back in the Ra vortex, with pithy contributions from fellow Ra vets violinist Billy Bang and trombonist Craig Harris plus the searing baritone sax of Alex Harding. Abdullah admirably manages to convey both the edge and the humor unique to Ra's orbit. Another significant contributor is poet Louis Reyes Rivera.

Info Factor: Snail mailing address and web address provided on the booklet, back panel, and imprinted on the disc itself. Tunes listed on all three as well, with band personnel listed in the booklet and on back jewel case panel; individual soloists for each track listed in booklet, which also includes Abdullah's meticulous notes on each track. http://www.planetarts.org and http://ahmedian.com. (A+)

Alaadeen
New Africa Suite
ASR
Alaadeen is a Kansas City-based tenor and soprano saxophonist-composer with one foot in the old school one in post-Coltrane expressions. He is an especially adept balladeer, as witnessed by the beautiful "Salaam, Shalom, Peace" one of his seven originals. "Time's Up" is a rewardingly intrepid line and "The Jannah" shows that Alaadeen is not above putting some funk in his stride. Throughout this session there's a sort of knowingness that is quite rewarding.

Info Factor: This is one of those environment-friendly cardboard packages, the only problem with which is this type package has no room for a booklet and there are absolutely no program notes. An artist like Alaadeen begs some measure of bio information for a largely unknowing public outside KC. Otherwise the tracks are listed on both the package (which also includes personnel listings for each track) and the disc itself. Contact info is sufficient, including complete management contacts and Alaadeen's web address: http://www.alaadeen.com. (B+)

Gregg August
Late August
Lacuessa Records
Bassist Gregg August cooks up an attractive menu of moods and textures, from the Latin romp of his "Sweet Maladie" (he wrote everything) to the pensive "Treatments in Darkness." His little black book is impressive, able to call on a range of players to realize his music, from young alto burner Myron Walden to masters Frank Wess and Ray Barretto.

Info factor: Track listings on both the booklet and the disc itself (you're getting the idea that this is essential); personnel varies from track to track and is clearly listed with each selection. No bio notes so the unfamiliar listener has no idea who Gregg August is (and since this is my first encounter with Gregg, I have no idea if this is even his first disc). Lone contact info is Gregg's web site address on the back jewel case panel, and on the disc itself: http://www.greggaugust.com. (B-)

Clairdee
Music Moves
Declare Music
This Bay Area-based chanteuse has always had a warm way with a song, here gracing a live audience with ample doses of her honey-laden voice and ten largely tried and true chestnuts. She has a soulful touch, as evidenced by the hit of funk intro to "Summertime" - breathing much-needed new live into that overworked warhorse and showing that she has invested some study time in Billy Stewart's epic R&B reading. A highlight is her easeful swing on "Quiet Nights."

Info factor: I'm a bit confused, all contact information and imprints otherwise suggest this is another of her Declare Music releases, yet Joel Dorn's Hyena Records is stamped on the back cover of this environment-friendly cardboard package. Contact info is adequate: web address on back cover and the disc. For the unfamiliar there is a concise, informative paragraph about Clairdee on the inside cover and a laudatory quote from vocal master Nancy Wilson on the back cover; track listings on back cover and disc. (B+)

George Colligan
Mad Science
Sunny Sky Records
George Colligan, who also teaches at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, is a versatile keyboardist who's as comfortable with the disparate vocal approaches of Vanessa Rubin and Cassandra Wilson as he is with saxophonists as different as Steve Coleman and Gary Bartz. Here he travels the electric route with some fairly gnarly work on Hammond B3 organ and a lean quartet sound that includes the guitar of Tom Guama; and anytime Gary Thomas mans the reeds there's bound to be an edge. There are more than a few funky curveballs in this program of 8 Colligan originals.

Info factor: Includes his booking contact and web address inside 2-page booklet only. No track listing on disc, absolutely no bio info and some fine print 2-point type on front cover and inside booklet that might only be deciphered by someone with x-ray vision. www.georgecolligan.com (C)

Gerald Dunn
Out of the Comfort Zone
(?)
Produced in part by Bobby Watson, Kansas City-based alto and tenor saxman Gerald Dunn leads a quartet that is augmented by a poet on one track. This was recorded at The Blue Room of the 18th & Vine complex that houses the jazz museum in KC and the audience is certainly in the pocket. Dunn puts an agreeable contempo (not smooth) spin on several familiars and band originals. The medley treatment of Oscar Pettiford's "Blues in the Closet" and Clifford Brown's "Blues Walk" is a good end game touch. The somewhat burnished quality of his tenor on drummer Michael Warren's "The New Moon" is quite attractive. There is a seamless segueway from the poem to Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood", but as with too many of these tracks we're plagued with the dread engineer's fadeout conclusion. Info factor: The question (?) mark under the title above is because one is hard pressed to determine what label this is on (is it Blue Room?). There are some very warm, personal notes on his band and his family and friends inside the booklet, but no real sense of who Gerald Dunn is. No tracks listed on disc and the lone contact info (web address) is for an audio production company, not our fearless leader. So, if I'm interested, how am I supposed to get more information and/or buy this disc? (C-)

Ethel Ennis
Ennis Anyone?
Jazzmont Records
Recorded live at Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, MD this criminally overlooked, warm voice of vast experience delivers a 12-track program of largely standards with great aplomb and abundant good humor. Who else could successfully pull off a lyric about an exterminator's visit ("Mr. Roachman Blues")? Great humor is one of her hallmarks; dig the classy intro monologue to her beautiful reading of "Everything Must Change."

Info factor: This release is actually a product of Montpelier Cultural Arts Center and is part of their series of in-concert sessions. Contact info on both the booklet and back cover is more than adequate for the intrepid. The booklet also contains liner notes and artist bios on Ethel and her trio, in addition to notes on Montpelier. No track listings on the disc is the lone drawback. (A)

Oliver Lake Steel Quartet
Dat Love
Passin' Thru
This is the latest in protean alto & soprano saxman Oliver Lake's burgeoning Passin' Thru imprint. In this quartet Lake substitutes the traditional piano or guitar for steel pan man Lyndon Achee. The pans obviously invoke the islands but this ain't about endless calypso and is instead a more than solid largely straight ahead date with left leanings that includes two jazz standards ("Stolen Moments" and "Senor Blues" ) and Lake originals, rounded out by a swell turn on the Mary J Blige/Stevie Wonder vehicle "Time." The title track cleverly borrows the bass line from the R&B classic "People Make the World Go Round."

Info factor: Web, email and snail mail info on back cover but nowhere else. Tracks listed on back cover and disc, with composer credits on disc. Booklet notes consist largely of laudatory quotes from Lake's distinguished career. (B)

NOJO
City of Neighborhoods
True North
NOJO is a Canadian nonet that is largely a composer's ensemble prone to inviting high profile guests to explore its original music. The co-navigators, pianist Paul Neufeld and guitarist-conductor Michael Occhipinti split the 7 tracks' composer credits 4/3 and that's pretty much the point of this fine ensemble, but wouldn't it have made sense given special guest Sam Rivers' edgy bag of compositions to have included at least one of his pieces? On the other hand taking Sam outside his usual milieu was an obvious delight for both NOJO and Rivers. The compositions are suitably arch and intricate to keep Rivers' attentions focused, as evidenced by his spirited soprano on Neufeld's "Spend Every Dime." Info factor: Label and co-leader web addresses on back cover only. Booklet has extensive notes, including leader notes on engaging Rivers and a paragraph on each composition - which is good given their original nature. Tracks listed on booklet and back panel (not disc) with soloist credits on booklet. (B+)

Phil Ranelin
Inspiration
Wide Hive
The leader is a SoCal based trombonist with a robust sound leading a full-blooded ensemble on an attractive post-Coltrane journey that pays homage to the master courtesy of Ranelin's "This One's For Trane," featuring guest Pharoah Sanders on tenor. Another welcome guest is Phil's Detroit homie Wendell Harrison on one of two Eric Dolphy paeans. Not all the spirits are up above, there's some very earthy swinging as well, witness "Black on the Nu." Above all is Ranelin's rich, full trombone. Incidentally spins of this one had WPFW listeners running to the telephones.

Info factor: Label and leader web sites on back panel only. Laudatory essay for Ranelin inside booklet requires a magnifying glass to read. Tracks and personnel listed on booklet and back panel, not on disc. (B)

Randy Sandke and the Inside Out Band
Outside In
Evening Star
Known as pretty much a trad/swing trumpeter, Randy Sandke doesn't limit his horizons here. He embraces a varied ensemble of up and downtown artists, from Howard Alden and Scott Robinson to Marty Ehrlich and Ray Anderson. The results veer comfortably from strict time to open time, with such spicy touches as synth textures straight out of a fright flick on the title track to Sandke's droll Kenneth Rexroth-esque beat poet journey on "Mobius Trip."

Info factor: Web (leader) and snail mail (label) contact info on back panel, booklet, and on the disc; ditto track listings all 3 places plus soloist credits in booklet. Sandke's notes flesh and map out each composition. (A+)

Omar Sosa
Aleatoric EFX
Ota
The virtuosic Cuban expatriate pianist-composer continues his on-again/off-again series of solo recitals. Speculating here, perhaps reflective of the self-exile's longing for home there is a melancholia here that's quite palpable amidst these deeply contemplative 9 tracks. Recorded live in Germany by Radio Bremen, this is quite different stuff from the joy of an unbridled Sosa band concert. Though the playing is good, the joy factor is missing. Frankly I think Omar has sufficiently documented his solo prowess, its time for more of his dynamic, crackling ensemble work.

Info factor: Another environmentally-friendly cardboard package with quite sufficient contact info on back panel. Omar is still in the emerging category deserving and the listener deserves at least a small bio sketch or composer's notes. Label web address but no tracks listed on disc. (B)

Ken Walker Sextet
Terra Firma
Syncopated Energy Music
If these guys are representative of the Rocky Mountain scene, jazz is in good hands in Denver. Bassist Ken Walker pilots a crisp sextet in a mixed program of his originals and jazz standards, plus one from band pianist Jeff Jenkins. This sparkling disc is high spirits in the true hard bop tradition. And Walker has the good taste to resurrect two compositions from the vastly underrated sax master Eddie Harris.

Info factor: Web and snail mail addresses on back cover and disc. Complimentary notes from NEA Jazz Master Benny Golson provide the 411 on Ken Walker; tracks listed on back cover, in the booklet, on the disc. (A)

The W.E.S. Group
A Jazz Mass
H2P Productions
Led by the impressive young tenor man William Smith, PhD - who is also an educator at American University - the W.E.S Group is one of the DC area's finest. This outing is blessed with Smith's exceptionally original jazz mass, commissioned by a DC Episcopal church, from "Prayer" to "Prayer" with praise songs and sanctified jazz spirits in between. Voices include lead singer Imani.

Info factor: The booklet includes lyrics and extensive notes on this unique project. Tracks are listed in booklet, on disc, and on back cover. Snail, internet address information, and fax on back cover. (A)

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