James Zoller: Zollar System

James Zollar is a musical treasure hidden in plain sight. He has played and recorded as a sideman for a variety of artists, including Cecil McBee, Tom Harrell, Weldon Irving and Sam Rivers, as a member of Wynton Marsalis' brass section in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and several of Don Byron's bands. While he leads his own mainstream-oriented quintet, Zollar has recorded only one collection, the very fine Soaring With Bird (Naxos Jazz, 1998).

Twelve years later, he re-emerges as leader with Zollar Systems, a refreshingly sharp hard bop recital, bristling with energy and sonic acuteness. Tired of that old Blue Note '50s-'60s blowing session model? Think again. Zollar breathes new life into the old form, tightening it up and repackaging it for the 21st Century. This is apparent, right out of the chute with Daniel Jackson's "Chicago Preferred," in classic hard bop form: complex, rhythmically assertive head followed by solos. Zollar is more Kenny Dorham than Lee Morgan and it still doesn't reveal the tart, informed tone of the leader.

Pianist Rick Germanson wastes no time establishing both his modern bop creds. His introduction to Basia's "The Prayer of a Happy Housewife" shimmers as does Stacy Dillard's soprano saxophone. Date producer and vocalist Nabuko Kiryu pens and sings her original composition "Take the Subway Home." She also provides the jaunty original "Go-en," sung in the original Japanese and then English. Zollar's solo sparkles with intelligence and melody. Don Byron lends his clarinet to the Eddie Harris romp "Spasmodic Movement," providing an angular and sharp solo.

Zollar proves his real talent on Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You." Unadorned and honest, Zollar's interpretation is melody over invention, soul over technique—the perfect hard bop ballad. James Zollar has spent far too long in the shadow of other leaders, who were all lucky to have his talent. Zollar Systems and the previous Soaring With Bird show the trumpeter to be more than able to lead his own musical vision.