Hendrik Meurkens: New York Nights

At the age of forty-four, Hendrik Meurkens really has no peers on the American jazz scene, with the possible exception of one. You see, Meurkens plays harmonica and the only other gentleman to make a name for himself in jazz with that instrument would be the ubiquitous Toots Thielmans. Born in Germany to Dutch parents, Meurkens' most recent endeavors have revolved around Brazilian music where he's worked with some of the greatest, including Ivan Lins and Claudio Roditi. But New York Nights is something else all together. Gather a fine rhythm section including drummer Jimmy Cobb, feature tenor phenom Eric Alexander on a few cuts, and mix some originals with a few old chestnuts and you get the idea. If you like things on the bop side and/or dig the call of the pipes, this one won't let you down.