Lenny White

Traffic continues the CBW tradition of blending virtuosic original compositions with immaculately conceived interpretations of jazz and classic rock standards. Original songs on Traffic include go-for-the-throat throwdowns like “Judith Loves Jazz,” “Door #3” and “Overruled,” while covers of Thelonious Monk’s “Misterioso” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” are also featured.

Legendary trombonist and shell master Steve Turre’s SANYAS is amazingly his first live recording as a leader in landmark in a career spanning more than 50 years. Recorded over an electrifying weekend at Smoke Jazz Club, SANYAS boasts a dream all-star band that continues the mission of Turre’s previous Smoke Sessions release, GENERATIONS, in bringing together stellar artists from multiple generations. Turre is joined by elders in the form of the iconic rhythm section of bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White; modern masters trumpeter Nicholas Payton and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and the rapidly rising star Isaiah J. Thompson on piano.

Amos Hoffman is an internationally recognized Israeli jazz guitarist and oud player, celebrated as a pioneer in blending Middle Eastern rhythms and melodic themes with modern jazz. MINOR OPERATION is his sixth album, recorded with an outstanding trio featuring Santi Debriano on bass and the legendary Lenny White on drums.

Legendary trombonist and shell master Steve Turre’s SANYAS is amazingly his first live recording as a leader in landmark in a career spanning more than 50 years. Recorded over an electrifying weekend at Smoke Jazz Club, SANYAS boasts a dream all-star band that continues the mission of Turre’s previous Smoke Sessions release, GENERATIONS, in bringing together stellar artists from multiple generations. Turre is joined by elders in the form of the iconic rhythm section of bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White; modern masters trumpeter Nicholas Payton and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and the rapidly rising star Isaiah J. Thompson on piano.

Amos Hoffman is an internationally recognized Israeli jazz guitarist and oud player, celebrated as a pioneer in blending Middle Eastern rhythms and melodic themes with modern jazz. MINOR OPERATION is his sixth album, recorded with an outstanding trio featuring Santi Debriano on bass and the legendary Lenny White on drums.

Pianist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White have teamed up once again to revisit their common roots in the seminal fusion band Return to Forever. On June 7, 2011, Concord Jazz released Forever, a two-CD set of 18 tunes that include updated RTF classics as well as jazz trio standards. In support of the release, a tour is planned for next summer.

This unique straight-ahead jazz project unites three core members of Return to Forever with post-bop horn heavyweights Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. Stanley Clarke makes an unusual appearance on upright bass, and plays it well. Chick Corea and Lenny White round out the ensemble. The set is strictly acoustic, beginning and ending with two Lenny White tunes, the lively "L's Bop" and the somber, dramatic "Guernica," respectively. Clarke contributes the catchy, mid-tempo blues "Why Wait," while Corea gives us "October Ballade" and Hubbard dusts off his hard-bop classic "Happy Times." Corea's trio featured on Steve Swallow's "Remember" breaks things up nicely.

The first four tracks on this double live record are extended version of tunes from the group's 1982 studio album. The last two are Thelonius Monk's "I Mean You" and the standard "Here's That Rainy Day." There's some great playing from all involved, especially Joe Henderson and Chick Corea, but the recording quality leaves something to be desired.