Ardeshir: Introducing Ardeshir

For more than 35 years, starting in the mid-1950s, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers set the gold standard for small-group hard bop jazz in the U.S. and around the world, a benchmark at which Canadian tenor saxophonist Ardeshir Pourkeramati's charismatic quintet/quartet takes dead aim on the leader's superlative debut recording, Introducing Ardeshir.

This is hard bop the way it should be played, with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm bolstered by resourceful solos and razor-sharp group interplay—on the order of the Jazz Messengers. Everyone does what he can to nurture that image, and although drummer Graham Villette may blush at any such comparison, he does a respectable job standing in for Blakey.

As for Pourkeramati, he is a stalwart hard bopper whose exemplars surely include the Messengers' Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Benny Golson, David Schnitter and Billy Harper, among others. He leads a quintet on nine numbers (including the brief closing theme), a quartet on two, with splendid guest appearances by tenors Cory Weeds (also the head man at Cellar Music) on Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt's robust "Blues Up and Down" and Steve Kaldestad on Stitt's high-powered "Eternal Triangle."

Pourkeramati has the sublime two-minutes-plus introduction to Jimmy Van Heusen and Eddie DeLange's alluring standard, "Darn That Dream," to himself before the others climb on board to broaden its conclusion. The quintet includes trumpeter Julian Borkowski, whose clear and persuasive statements awaken memories of the late great Conte Candoli. The group's remaining members (besides Villette) are pianist Winston Matsushita (another admirable soloist) and bassist David Caballero. Ardeshir plays tenor most of the way, flute on his leisurely composition, "All About," which also features guest percussionist Juan Encinales.

Pourkeramati wrote the bright and tasteful opener, "Sketches of Cedar," groovy "Silver Tones" (for Horace Silver), upbeat "Midnight Paradox" and a lively, bop-centered salute to Blakey, "Bu's Message." Wrapping up the captivating program are Mobley's emphatic "East of the Village" and the standards "My Shining Hour" (superb brush work by Villette, perceptive solos by Borkowski, Pourkeramati and Matsushita) and "Just One of Those Things," the last taken at the sort of lightning-swift tempo that plays to everyone's strength.

This is a dazzling introduction not only to Pourkeramati, a marvelous hard bop master by any measure, but also to his talented companions whose staunch support is indispensable at every turn. Together, they make Introducing Ardeshir an absolute pleasure to hear and appreciate.