Dave Douglas: Soul On Soul: RCA Victor
Douglas's move to a major label is the closest this marvellous, uncategorisable trumpeter, composer and arranger has come to a straight-ahead jazz album for a while. Everything's relative, of course; he's too individual. But his stamp is all over this homage to the music and spirit of pianist Mary Lou Williams, whose career reached from swing to Cecil Taylor's avant garde. It's evident in his writing, echoing the original mind behind his solo work, in the variety with which he fills these performances and the authoritative conception that gives the best of them a sense of completeness. Mostly, it works brilliantly, thanks to that and his superb, long-time working group - Chris Speed, Joshua Roseman, Uri Caine, James Genus and Joey Baron, with Greg Tardy guesting.
Mark Shim: Turbulent Flow: Blue Note
Saxophonist Shim, out of context in the Mingus band here recently, is better served on this, his second Blue Note album. Rhythmically angular, with a dry tenor tone, he's distinctive, building his enclosed, rather calculated solos from fragments that only gradually coalesce. He therefore needs the contrast of more overtly warm soloists, which Edward Simon (keyboards) and Stefon Harris (vibes/marimba), offer. Up to a point, it works; Shim's best work is impressively original, but most of the material, all but two by him, is slight and unmemorable, laying a monotonal ambience over the album. Significantly, the best moments come on Joe Henderson's Recorda Me and excellent drummer Eric Harland's gorgeous Eminence, with some lovely soprano from Shim.