Luke Sellick: Alchemist

Cellar Live Records
By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Alchemist

I’ve noticed a recent increase in the number of jazz albums by artists who reside in and/or have come from Canada. Proximity plays a role, as does the modern ease of producing CDs; that said, it’s nice to see a greater number of albums crossing the border, and giving us a greater opportunity to appreciate the talents of our neighbors. Bassist, composer and teacher Luke Sellick is an excellent example of the high quality coming from Due North.

Sellick, was born and raised in Winnipeg, attended New York’s Juilliard School of Music and was mentored by legendary bassist Ron Carter. Sellick then apprenticed with pianist Johnny O’Neal, and performed regularly in Big Apple jazz clubs. He currently lives in Harlem, and has a very busy schedule at local venues. He also has toured the world, both as a sideman and leader of “small jazz” combos. 

This release includes some New York’s finer “first-call” artists. Jimmy Greene and Jordan Pettay are featured (respectively) on tenor and alto sax; and Benny Benack and Mat Jodrell play trumpet. The rhythm section features Andrew Renfroe (guitar), Adam Birnbaum (piano) and Kush Abadey and Jimmy Macbride (drums). Bass clarinetist Andrew Gutauskas guests on one of the nine tracks. 

In addition to playing bass, Sellick composed and arranged all the tunes. The musicians share the various tracks, the configuration generally resulting in quintet performance.

The menu includes mid- to up-tempo swingers and ballads. All are smoothly performed: The melodic lines are unique, and the solos are first-class. Sellick clearly has a bright future.

Curtis Nowosad: Dialectics

Cellar Live Records
By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Dialectics

I enjoy reviewing all jazz artists and groups, old and new, but I’m particularly intrigued by releases that originate outside the United States. That’s the case with this album, which features Canadian musicians — or those influenced by Canadians — and is produced by Factor Canada, and released on British Columbia’s Cellar Live label. 

I often yearn for the sounds and styles that originated during the big band years and, over time, I’ve noticed an interesting thing. Because international artists often develop their skills by listening to music that originated in the States, many of them wind up producing the kind of jazz that turned us on during that big band period. 

Drummer Curtis Nowosad, who leads this quintet, was born in Winnipeg and has been a force in the Canadian jazz scene for years. He’s also a member of the New York jazz fraternity. His colleagues here are saxman Jimmy Greene and trumpeter Derrick Gardner, both Big Apple artists; and pianist Will Bonness and bassist Steve Kirby, who share jobs in both Canada and the States.

As often is the case when a drummer fronts a combo, the menu includes mostly mid- and up-tempo burners. Consider, as one example, that the standard “I Remember You” is done here at race-horse speed. Wayne Shorter’s “Speak No Evil” is a great swinger, and T. Monk’s “Bye-Ya” is given a smooth, Afro-Cuban reading. “Gleaning & Dreaming” emerges as a waltz, varying from 5 to 3 meters. 

The solo work is uniformly excellent, including Nowosad’s obligatory drum passages.

Our Northern neighbors have produced some good stuff here, and I look forward to more of the same.