(Ira Nepus, trombone and vocal; Steve Moore, acoustic and electric guitar; Bruce Lett, acoustic bass; Geoff Stradling, piano; Jack LeCompte, drums. With special guests: Jeff and John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton)
Tracking the jazz legacy that was Benny Carter is an undertaking that few musicians would tackle so soon after Benny’s passing (in 2003), but basing the tribute around a group led by trombone and guitar is an even more adventurous task. After all, Carter recorded as a large bandleader in the 1930s, and continued recording mostly as a small group leader into the 1990s shortly before his death. Benny rates right up with Duke Ellington as a jazz icon and Nepus and Moore have done Carter proud with a mixture of Carterian styles ranging from the 1930s to the 1980s. Classic standards such as When the Lights Are Low, I’m in the Mood for Swing, and All that Jazz (which was a highlight of the Broadway play Chicago) are balanced by contemporary arrangements of People Time and Doozy.
The muted work of Nepus on trombone along with the light swinging tone of Moore on guitar give this CD a refreshing swing feel. Carter was an altoist and an occasional trumpeter, so Nepus and Moore are given free rein to put a new instrumental spin on Carter’s repertoire. Nepus had performed with Benny’s ensemble late in Carter’s career, but his family’s ties to Carter go back to well before Ira was born as Nepus’ father had co-founded the Hot Club of France, and befriended Carter in the 1930s.
An added bonus to this CD is the appearance of Jeff Hamilton on drums on four tracks; and the Clayton brothers, Jeff and John, also make their presence felt. Moore and Nepus produced this Carter tribute and Moore assisted with the recording, engineering, and mixing duties.
Jazzed Media continues to be a major force on the mainstream jazz scene in releasing nothing but impeccable sessions either by our living jazz masters, i.e., Bud Shank, Phil Woods, Bill Holman, and Terry Gibbs – or tribute CDs by lesser known talent that deserve wider recognition such as Ira Nepus and Steve Moore. Thanks go out to Graham Carter, who in roughly five short years has made Jazzed Media into a top tier jazz label keeping the true jazz tradition alive.
Tracklist: The Romp, Hello, When Lights are Low, South Side Samba, Rock Me to Sleep, The Courtship, I’m in the Mood for Swing, People Time, Easy Money, Only Trust your Heart, Another Time, Another Place, Doozy, All That Jazz
– Jeff Krow
