Conrad Hock

On nearly all his projects, trombonist Conrad Herwig is known for his tasteful arrangements, excellent playing, and keen instinct for top-notch personnel, characteristics he’s brought to bear on his Latin treatments of compositions by jazz legends like John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Herwig applies the same standard to his live recording, he Latin Side Of Wayne Shorter, taking on compositions by the great saxophonist, including “Ping Pong,” “Adam’s Apple,” and “Footprints,” and infusing them with healthy doses of Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and other Latin rhythms. Shorter’s dynamic tunes provide the perfect backdrop for Herwig’s impressive facility for reinvention.

Conrad Herwig follows up Unseen Universe with another all-original set, this time paring down to a quartet. It's not common for a trombonist to lead a small-group session as the only horn, but Herwig, with his technical facility, expressiveness, and timbral range, is uniquely capable of doing so. The pianist on the date is Bill Charlap, who's been gaining a reputation as a traditionalist and a champion of standard tunes. What he does here with Herwig's expansive harmonies and forms makes clear that he's not so easily pigeonholed. Bassist James Genus and drummer Gene Jackson complete the formidable lineup, generating heat ("Hieroglyphica," "Island of the Day Before") and light ("The Orange Dove," "Solar Circle") in perfect proportion. On "Quiet Mountain," Herwig and Charlap perform as a duo, with celestial results.

Conrad Herwig's second Criss Cross release is a trombonist's dream as Herwig joins forces with another trombonist, former Jazz Messenger Steve Davis, and a first-rate rhythm section of pianist David Kikoski, bassist James Genus, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts to perform three Herwig originals, two jazz classics, and two standards. Both Herwig and Davis are skilled improvisers with distinctive voices on their chosen instruments, choosing to complement each other rather than compete. Herwig plays mostly in the bone's upper register, Davis prefers the middle and lower registers, while Kikoski, Genus, and Watts supply enough fire to keep the proceedings heated. Favorites include the hard swinging "Syeeda's Song Flute," written by John Coltrane, "Kenny K"…

These entirely instrumental recordings were created in the late 1970s at Peter Baumann’s Paragon Studio. This stellar period gave rise to the finest works: the Con, Consequenz and Con 3albums, featuring such wonderful pieces as Fata Morgana, Coca and Auf dem schwarzen Kanal.These recently discovered pieces take the aforementioned albums a stage further. Sounds complementeach other as they are reprised, whilst continuing to exist in their own cosmos. As you listen, you feel asif you have been transported back into the studio itself while the sessions are happening.