Leigh Pilzer: Keep Holding On

There are times when the friends you make can make a world of difference. That is certainly true of baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer's recording, Keep Holding On, whose trio format—admirable in its own way—is considerably enriched by a quartet of friends and colleagues whose expertise helps brighten even further five of the album's 11 already-impressive numbers.

The first of those guests is trombonist Jen Krupa, like Pilzer a former member of the marvelous all- female The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, who is no less than a muted monster on Pilzer's buoyant "Js and Ks," a fond salute to other two-horn combos that was written to honor one of the best ever, the legendary partnership of Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson. A second trombonist, Joe Jackson, teams with Pilzer and her trio on the session's penultimate number, digging in hard and trading sharp four-bar volleys with Pilzer on the leader's handsomely-groomed "Sideburns" before drummer Greg Holloway appends a decisive statement of his own.

Pilzer also welcomes a pair of talented trumpeters, Ally Hany Albrecht on the soft and dreamy "When It's Gone" and Kenny Rittenhouse on the playful "What's Up, Puppy" (inspired by a punch line delivered by the late jazz educator David Baker), as well as on Holloway's rip-roaring finale, "G's Bop." The trio's third member, organist Paul Bratcher, composed the plucky New Orleans-styled "Zingamomma," while Pilzer wrote the other nine themes, starting with "Swinging at the Station" and including "Musing Music," "Keep Holding On," "Just Another Pretty Song," and "East Coast Andy"—every one of which is a harmonic and rhythmic pleasure to appreciate.

Pilzer is also a pleasure to hear, her dark and chiseled sound mirroring that of contemporaries Gary Smulyan and Ronnie Cuber, among others, as it kindles memories of such giants as Pepper Adams, Nick Brignola and Cecil Payne. While she is perfectly secure and comfortable in a trio setting—and Bratcher and Holloway are admirable helpmates—one of Pilzer's better ideas was to invite Krupa, Rittenhouse, Albrecht and Jackson along for the ride. With that talented foursome on board, what a splendid and sunny excursion it becomes.