Jay Hoggard

Vibraphonist Jay Hoggard gained his initial recognition for his playing in avant-garde and adventurous settings. By the late 80s, Hoggard had decided to explore hard bop and straight-ahead jazz. On this out of print but worthy CD, the vibraphonist recalls Bobby Hutcherson and Milt Jackson in spots, swinging on a variety of originals, Stevie Wonder's "You And I" and "Sonny's Themes" (which covers Sonny Rollins' "Alfie" and "Sonnymoon for Two"). The young Benny Green is a major asset on piano, bassist Marcus McLaurine and drummer Yoron Israel are excellent in support, and Hoggard's songs are full of variety and color.

Jay Hoggard's lone date for Contemporary (reissued as an OJC CD) was one of the vibraphonist's finest early sets. The music (all six songs are Hoggard originals) falls into the area of advanced hard bop. Chief among the sidemen are Chico Freeman (heard on tenor, soprano and bass clarinet), keyboardist Kenny Kirkland, and colorful percussionist Paulinho Da Costa; two songs utilize three vocalists, and there is a strong African feel to some of the ensembles.

After years of playing avant-garde jazz and post-bop music, Jay Hoggard returned to the straight-ahead bop-oriented tradition with this CD. On "Put on a Happy Face," a swinging "Blues Bags," and a medium-tempo version of Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear," Hoggard emulates Milt Jackson a bit. He also sounds quite comfortable playing Afro-Cuban jazz on "Aguacate" and his solos on the two other swinging originals is very much hard bop, although never overly predictable. Pianist Geri Allen, sounding more conservative than usual, is nevertheless still a stimulating soloist and accompanist, with bassist Ed Rozie and drummer Frederick Waits keeping the music swinging and moving.

Terumasa Hino - Spark (1994) {Somethin' Else Japan TOCJ-5563}
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© 1994 Somethin' Else / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-5563
Jazz / Fusion / Hard Bop / Trumpet

This is one of trumpeter Terumasa Hino's more interesting releases. Hino often sounds like an exact duplicate of Freddie Hubbard in his prime on the more hard bop-oriented pieces while mixing in a bit of Miles Davis with Hubbard on the funkier numbers. He is joined by a fine Japanese group (in addition to Jay Hoggard on marimbas and vibes and percussionist Don Alias) which includes two percussionists who keep the rhythms torrid; Hoggard (particularly on marimbas) is a major part of the ensembles.

Oliver Lake - Talkin' Stick (1997) {Passin' Thru Records 41213 rel 2000}
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© 1997, 2000 Passin' Thru Records | 41213
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Neo-Bop / Saxophone

Talkin' Stick puts the versatile Oliver Lake into what could pass for a conventional hard bop quintet. However, with Lake's full-throated alto as the primary voice, there's little that's business-as-usual about this date. The session explores some in-the-pocket grooves mostly by the leader, with a couple felicitous contributions by Julius Hemphill ("Hard Blues") and Curtis Clark ("Only if You Live There"). Clark's piece is a real ear-catcher, with a playful, toy piano-like quality that Lake abstracts and broadens in a typically ferocious solo.

Chico Freeman (tripling on this album on tenor, soprano and bass clarinet) made many records from 1977-84, and all are worth picking up by fans of adventurous jazz. Freeman's warm tone and knowledge of more traditional areas of jazz make even his more abstract flights seem fairly accessible. Joined by vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, bassist Rick Rozie and drummer Don Moye on this somewhat obscure effort, Freeman stretches out on lengthy renditions of his originals "No Time Left," "Uhmla," and a briefer "Circle."

Chico Freeman - Tangents (1984) {Wounded Bird WOU6361 rel 2008}
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© 1984, 2008 Elektra Musician / Wounded Bird | WOU 6361
Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz / Percussion / Reeds

An interesting if quite diverse set, this album is best remembered for featuring up-and-coming singer Bobby McFerrin on a few selections. McFerrin has his moments, as does tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman and such notable sidemen as altoist Steve Coleman, John Purcell on reeds, either Kenny Werner or Mark Thompson on piano, Freeman's longtime bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart, among others. The material (by Freeman, Thompson and Werner) is actually not that significant, and the date on a whole is less memorable than many of Chico Freeman's earlier sets, but it has its enjoyable spots.

Kenny Burrell's discography for the Fantasy label encompasses the middle period of his career, and though well played, it leaves one wanting. His Blue Note material from his earlier days is better, and his interpretations of Duke Ellington's music from that era are definitive. There are only two Ellington numbers here, so this collection only scratches the surface.

John Rapson - Bing (1990) {Sound Aspects SASCD036}
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© 1990 Sound Aspects | SAS CD 036
Jazz / Modern Creative / Neo-Bop / Trombone

Rapson began on piano at age five before switching to trombone. He studied at Westmont College, graduating in 1976, then took his MA in composition at California State University. Rapson taught at Westmont from 1980 to 1990, concurrently playing in Los Angeles with Vinny Golia (1979-90). He also worked with Tim Berne (1980, 1986), Walter Thompson (1980), Bobby Bradford (1986-90), and John Carter (1988-90). He has worked extensively as a leader with noted West Coast jazz players.