Cory Weeds: Home Cookin'

On Home Cookin', his second recording with an eleven-piece "little big band," tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds is doing the best he can. Really. As Weeds writes in the liner notes, the plan was to rehearse the band for two nights at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, Canada, home to Weeds and most of the band's personnel, then to convene at the Warehouse Studio on Sunday to record. Arriving at the club on Friday evening, Weeds found to his dismay that someone had broken into Frankie's the day before and stolen his "incredible" favorite horn, among other things.

Thanks to fellow saxophonists and band members James Danderfer and Steve Kaldestad, Weeds was able to acquire a new horn in time for one full rehearsal; however, he writes, "I wasn't playing the horn I had played for the better part of ten years...It wasn't my horn, it wasn't my mouthpiece, they weren't even my reeds...but I had a job to do and a recording to make, and what's the saying? 'A good carpenter doesn't blame his tools.'"

Setting aside his disappointment, Weeds went straight to work in the studio, leading the band through its paces on an admirable session that includes a pair of splendid originals by Horace Silver; one by Weeds and another ("Corner Kisses") by his father, Bill; Thad Jones' "Thedia," Michael Weiss' "Power Station" and the standard "Lullaby of the Leaves," adapted and transcribed by Fred Stride from Oliver Nelson's arrangement. Aside from leading the band, Weeds solos on every number (showing no problem whatsoever with his new horn) and has center stage to himself on his even-tempered "Blossoms in May."

Silver's soulful "Home Cookin'" raises the curtain, and his lively "Metamorphosis" rings it down. In between are the high-spirited "Corner Kisses," "Blossoms in May," the groovy "Power Station," charming "Thedia" and seductive "Lullaby." Most were adapted or arranged by music director Jill Townsend and/or Bill Coon who manage to make the ensemble (four saxophones, two trumpets, two trombones and rhythm section) sound like a full-fledged big band when necessary. Speaking of rhythm, it is in the capable hands of pianist Chris Gestrin, bassist John Lee and drummer Jesse Cahill.

As noted, Weeds solos superbly on every number, which may be why the album is subtitled "With Little Big Band Accompaniment." Kaldestad solos on "Home Cookin'" and "Metamorphosis," baritone Dave Say on "Metamorphosis," Gestrin on "Corner Kisses" and "Lullaby of the Leaves," Cahill on "Corner Kisses" and (with Lee) on "Thedia." While the trumpet solos on "Corner Kisses" and "Power Station" are not listed, they are presumably taken by Brad Turner. Needless to say, every solo is exemplary.

In 2018, Weeds recorded Explosion (Cellar Live) with a Little Big Band comprised of first-call musicians from New York City. With Home Cookin', Weeds proves that there are a similar number of talented sidemen in the Vancouver area who appreciate his talent and love supporting him. Only forty minutes of cookin' music but none of them is wasted.