CD REVIEWS

Eric Harland/Voyager: Live by night (Space Time Records BG1031)

Drummer Eric Harland has already established a tremendous reputation having appeared with many great jazz musicians including Dave Holland and McCoy Tyner.

This first album under his own name was recorded live in Paris with a group of players largely new to me including Walter Smith III on tenor, Julian Lage, guitar, and Taylor Eigsti, piano. All play superbly both as individuals and an ensemble.

The Cookers/Warriors (Jazz legacy Productions JLP1001009)

There’s huge experience in this group, assembled and led by David Weiss and Craig Handy. Veteran musicians Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, George Cables, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart, together with Weiss and Handy, revel in the opportunity, producing a stirring mix ranging from the sensitive to the passionate.

Yotam/Resonance (Jazz Legacy JLP1001008)

Now based in New York this Israeli-born guitarist offers a range of music from bop classics to Brazilian samba and reggae. I’m obviously more drawn to the jazz repertoire with tracks like Two bass hit backed by a trio of Aaron Goldberg, Christian McBride and Gregory Hutchinson, and two with trumpeter Roy Hargrove added – Daahoud and Mamacita.