The Irv Grossman Sextet: Sound Advice

Trumpeter Irv Grossman has assembled a stellar sextet that delivers a compelling session of straight-ahead jazz steeped in tradition and camaraderie under the title of Sound Advice. Surrounding himself with a dream team of musicians, including tenor saxophonist Sam Dillon, alto saxophonist Andrew Gould and, on several tracks, trombonist Jimmy O'Connell. The horns are supported by an unflagging rhythm section of pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Todd Coolman and the irrepressible Billy Drummond on drums. The album's repertoire consists of charts written explicitly for this configuration that lends itself to rich harmonic exploration and dynamic group interactions.

The session opens with the title track, " Sound Advice," by tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, with the frontline stating the theme in unison. As Drummond drives the number forward, Dillon picks up the line with a fiery solo. All members show their chops, but Hazeltine is particularly effective in his intricate playing, keeping the melody in mind and always knowing where he is. A Grossman original, "X Rays Dilemma," is the following track: a dandy. Exuding warmth and vulnerability, Grossman controls the frame supported only by the rhythm section. Hazeltine shows he is a pianist of remarkable touch and expressive exposition as he assists in bringing this ballad to life.

The trumpeter Tom Harrell contributes two numbers to this release, the first of which is "Four The Moment." It opens with the frontline engaging in sophisticated precision voicing, leading into a clear-eyed solo from O'Connell. Grossman continues along melodically with Hazeltime picking up the pieces in a fleet-fingered and articulate style. At this point in the album, it is clear that each horn player brings individual brilliance and seamless cohesion to the charts. In turn, they are supported by a rhythm section that is as sturdy as it is flexible, allowing the soloists to improvise freely.

Hard bop tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley is the source for "Three Way Split," in which the ensemble navigates the intricate arrangement with ease. With Grossman dropping out, Dillon, O'Connell and Gould shoulder the load, trading their bold solos and blending the harmonies with clarity. Tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter wrote "Nefertiti" for the Miles Davis studio album of the same name for Columbia Records in 1968. However, unlike the Davis recording, which has the horn section repeating the melody numerous times with the rhythm section improvising underneath, this chart reverts to the more traditional format of the horns carrying the melody and improvisations supported by the rhythm section. As this is an ensemble of friends who enjoy playing jazz together, this camaraderie shines through their performances, proving that the session is as much about curation and collaboration as it is about virtuosity. Irv Grossman and the sextet have crafted a thoroughly engaging session.

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