Kent Engelhardt & Stephen Enos: Madd For Tadd

The masterworks on this second edition of Madd for Tadd are presented on two discs, one of which bears the name of one of composer/pianist Tadd Dameron's classic themes, "Our Delight." Oddly, the other is named for the only non-Dameronian item on the menu, "Central Avenue Swing," written by saxophonist and Dameron chronicler Kent Engelhardt who adapted the composer's tasteful charts for a big band and co-leads the ensemble with trumpeter Steve Enos.

Although he is most closely associated with the emerging bop movement of the early to late-1940s and beyond, Dameron (who was born in 1917) also penned charts for swing bands including Kansas City's Harlan Leonard and His Rockets, nine of which are presented on "Central Avenue Swing," with one other, "Heaven's Doors Are Open Wide," written for Miles Davis. "Our Delight" is more bop- centered, with themes composed for Fats Navarro, John Coltrane, Billy Eckstine, Blue Mitchell and others. Engelhardt, who has set for himself the daunting task of transcribing, notating and editing all of Dameron's music, assembled an all-star group of musicians for this recording, and they have no problem assimilating and enriching Engelhardt's admirable arrangements. In fact, they do it so well that the entire narrative calls to mind a pleasurable trip down memory lane.

While Dameron's propensity to swing is widely recognized, his extraordinary gift for melody is every inch as salient and impressive. Even today, several of his compositions are performed or recorded often by jazz groups of every shape and temper, as they have become (well- deserved) jazz standards. "Our Delight" is certainly one, as are "Lady Bird," "Cool Breeze," "Hot House," "If You Could See Me Now" and "Good Bait"—and there are others that deserve no less than honorable mention including "The Squirrel" and four written for John Coltrane: "Handy Andy," "Soultrane," "Mating Call" and "Super Jet," all of which are included here.

The ensemble gives each of them a thrilling ride, the kind that Dameron would no doubt have appreciated. Besides working flawlessly as a team, every member of the band is a perceptive soloist in his own right, which makes every ad lib a pleasure to hear. Trumpeter Brad Goode, who has veered toward the avant-garde in recent years, reverts to hard-swinging form (good news indeed) and is featured extensively on "Central Avenue Swing" with fellow trumpeter Tim Leahey, tenor saxophonists Dave Kana and Mike Tomaro (great to hear from him again), trombonists Jeff Bush and Michael Dease, baritone Tom Reed (who has the floor to himself on "My Dream") and pianist Phil DeGreg.

Kana, Leahey, Tomaro and Dease return on "Our Delight," teaming with trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, alto John Orsini, trombonist Chris Anderson, pianist Jackie Warren, bassist Dave Morgan and drummer par excellence Jim Rupp (who anchors the band's outstanding rhythm section). Engelhardt solos on "Lady Bird," "Soultrane" and "The Squirrel," while Enos sits in for Blue Mitchell on "A Blue Time" and (muted) "Smooth as the Wind," on which he is featured.

The ensemble moves seamlessly from bop to swing, nailing it on "Central Avenue Swing" (which sounds like it could have been written by Dameron himself) and such early-career gems as "Dameron Stomp," "400 Swing," "Keep Rockin,'" "Society Steps Out" and "Rock and Ride." "Our Delight" is no less pleasing, as Dameron's memorable themes are wonderfully reimagined by Engelhardt, Enos and their talented teammates. There are four vocals, two on each disc. Erin Keckan acquits herself well on "Heaven's Doors," "Dig It," "Lady Bird" and "I Think I'll Go Away." The last was scored for sextet, as were "Lady Bird`" and "The Squirrel."

If you were not Madd for Tadd before encountering this recording, it may well change your mind while serving as an excellent introduction to one of the bop era's leading composers, the great Tadd Dameron.

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