/ BY FRANK-JOHN HADLEY

Otis Clay (pictured) collaborates with Johnny Rawls on their new album Soul Brothers.

Frank Catalano/Jimmy Chamberlin/Percy Jones/ Adam Benjamin/Chris Poland DRAGAN TASIC Love Supreme Collective ROPEADOPE Gone Like Tomorrow HHH Otis Clay & Johnny Rawls: Soul Brothers (Cat- er (swing-era drummer Gene Krupa, too). Like so Tony Fitzpatrick’s disrobing cover gal here, allied food 021; 39:04 HHHH1) The studio collabo- many harp players since Paul Butterfield, Bisharat to unabashed association with A Love Supreme, ration by these two veteran singers is one of the feels compelled to be a lead singer. Fortunately, John Coltrane’s agonizingly chaste open letter to brightest stars in the 21st century soul-blues uni- he’s more than satisfactory. God—which celebrates its 50th anniversary this verse. Both have an uncanny sense of dramatic Ordering info: biggeorgeharp.com winter—equals bona fide jazz blasphemy. But exactitude, projecting bracingly honest profes- Kaye Bohler: Handle The Curves (Kaye unstoppable Chicago tenorist Frank Catalano’s sions of faith or apprehension about matters of the Bohler Productions; 38:27 HHH) Kaye Bohler, runaway career is characterized by lack of squea- heart. Bassist Bob Trenchard joined Clay and Rawls a belter of the highest order, with Etta James hard- mishness (despite horrified memories of car acci- in composing solid, inviting songs that have a vivid wired in her DNA, holds nothing back about her dents and finger truncation, survival from which kinship to the rich soul past. Outside material from strengths as a woman in 10 original songs on her he attributes to God’s grace). the 1960s and ’70s also suits the spry elders; they fifth record. With guitarist Pete Anderson enam- validate the enduring worth of Jimmy Ruffin’s ored of Stax in his production, too much really, There is some canny bashfulness here in that broken-dream “What Becomes Of The Broken- Bohler sets up and relieves tension while “keeping his EP suite is 10 minutes shorter that the epoch- hearted?” and the blue-eyed rock-soul hit “Only the fire burning” in carnal love encounters and in al Impulse! date from 1964. While jazz pedants You Know And I Know.” Special mention to ever-re- coping with modern life. might be unsettled by bandmembers’ affiliations sourceful Catfood guitarist Johnny McGhee, for- Ordering info: kayebohler.com with such groups as Megadeth and Smashing merly with Marvin Gaye, Les McCann, many more. Marcia Ball: The Tattooed Lady And The Pumpkins, guitarist Chris Poland, drummer Ordering info: catfoodrecords.com Alligator Man (Alligator 4964; 43:21 HHH1) Jimmy Chamberlin, Kneebody keyboardist Adam JW Jones: Belmont Boulevard (Blind Pig As she’s done on 13 previous albums over four de- Benjamin and Brand X bassist Percy Jones really 5162; 50:00 HHH1) JW Jones, submitting his cades, Marcia Ball, a newly inked carnival attrac- bolster Catalano’s gushy flights of feeling. ninth album but first for an established Ameri- tion, taps into an elixir of Gulf Coast r&b and blues. The tenorist emits a preemptive rasp within can label, gives all of himself to finding a tone of The self-aware element to her vocals gives an aura 20 seconds of the fade-in that recalls a screech emotional credibility in his rockin’ blues. Unlike of personal revelation to the lyrics of her typically from Trane’s arsenal and references the “A Love many peers, the talented Canadian guitarist deals appealing, intelligent songs—none better than the in clarity and substantive excitement, not tes- brokenhearted slow blues “The Last To Know.” In Supreme” , but the buttery tone heralding tosterone-heavy grandstanding. Jones may not the autumn of her career, some strain affects the “Resolution Of Purpose” owes more to Chicago be a top-level singer, but the appeal of his voice flow of her vocals. Ball’s boogie-and-blues piano sax titan Ari Brown. Unshackled with dubi- increases in interest with each listen. He and pro- is as potent as ever at heady or slow paces. Her ous comparisons, the music refreshes traditional ducer-drummer Tom Hambridge, in great demand working band, including excellent guitarist Mike tropes of avant-garde catharsis with new textures these days, did the bulk of the writing, maintain- Schermer, bristles with avid devotion to the music. and timbres. ing adequacy among songs with lyrics personal to Ordering info: alligator.com Ostinato hums from Jones wrap splintered Jones. They picked two undervalued evergreens to Markus James: Head For The Hills (Fi- sci-fi colorations from Benjamin and Chamberlin’s cover: Bobby Parker’s “Watch Your Step” and Bud- renze 014; 55:34 HHH1) That is, Mississippi driving tubs in a warm blanket, making this dy Guy’s “What’s Inside Of You.” hills once frequented by R.L. Burnside and Junior “Acknowledgement Of Truth” more accept- Ordering info: blindpigrecords.com Kimbrough. Markus James has a background of able to non-improv-friendly ears. Chamberlin Big Harp George: Chromaticism (Blue creative exploration in blues, and this session, and Jones fuel “Pursuance And Persistence,” and HHH Mountain 01; 47:29 1) San Franciscan recorded in the Magnolia State and back home Catalano rides Benjamin’s rocket before per- George Bisharat isn’t your everyday law profes- in with only a drummer, is his take on sistence retards. “Psalm For John” shimmers like sor; he’s also a blues harmonica player. At age rough, knife-in-the-gut sounds. His singing, rang- a Jim Jarmusch soundtrack with Poland’s guitar 59, he realizes his dream of recording his first al- ing from heavy whisper to ecstatic shout, and his bum, furthering the West Coast blues tradition invasive slide guitar work reside in dark, unforgiv- fielding Catalano’s restrained soprano. that identifies with the freedom and swing of jazz. ing originals that are wakeup calls about looming —Michael Jackson Once schooled by the now-deceased maestro Paul personal or global chaos. In lesser hands, James’ deLay, Bisharat impresses with tone, creativity and efforts would come off as pretense run amuck, Love Supreme Collective: Acknowledgement Of Truth; Resolution Of Purpose; Pursuance And Persistence; Psalm For John. control of his large, customized chromatic Hohners but he has the creative ideas, the boldness and the (22:01) in entertaining originals and choice selections from conviction to transcend that trap. DB Personnel: Frank Catalano, tenor and soprano saxophone; Adam the 1950s linked to Jesse Stone and T-Bone Walk- Ordering info: markusjames.com Benjamin, keyboards (1–3); Chris Poland, guitar (4); Percy Jones, bass; Jimmy Chamberlin, drums. Ordering info: ropeadope.com; catalanomusic.com

66 DOWNBEAT JANUARY 2015