Paul Kendall: Whisper Not

An organ trio led not by the organist, Dan Kostelnik, but by tenor saxophonist Paul Kendall. Makes no difference, as the music on Whisper Not is delightful, and Kostelnik and Kendall sound like they've been playing together for years instead of for the first time on this impressive studio date, recorded in March 2023.

The trio (Rudy Petschauer is the drummer) break no new ground; they simply embrace a series of popular and jazz standards—along with a pair of Kendall's original compositions—and play them extremely well. The essence is bop, which can be either shopworn or stimulating, depending on one's point of vew and proclivity. Listening to these master hands, the upshot may be to reason, "yes, I've heard most of those songs before, but these renditions are so pleasing that I wouldn't mind hearing more of the same."

As noted, much of the territory is well-traveled, starting with Benny Golson's classic "Whisper Not" and including familiar themes by Sonny Rollins, Clare Fischer, Miles Davis and Lee Morgan, bookending the standards "It's You or No One," "These Foolish Things," "Embraceable You," "Just Friends" and "Speak Low." Kendall weighs in with "Penelope's Peril" (based on "I'll Remember April") and "Quick Drink" (ditto "What Is This Thing Called Love"), each of which is splendid and swings hard.

Kendall plays muscular, straight-ahead tenor, while Kostelnik keeps the Hammond organ mostly in the lower register without ceding spirit or swing. Petschauer solos on several numbers, always with awareness and good taste. Together, they produce the sort of well-ordered sound a jazz trio should, whether on the standards or themes by Rollins ("Airegin"), Fischer ("Pensativa"), Davis ("Nardis") and Morgan ("Ceora").

For those who would welcome more than an hour of well-planned and well-performed bop, Whisper Not should leave a smile on the face and a warm feeling in the heart.