Josh Nelson
Discoveries
Steel Bird Music
www.joshnelsonmusic.com

Warren Wolf
Warren Wolf
Mack Avenue Jazz
www.mackavenue.com
By George W. Harris

Here are a pair of artists that, while fairly new, are showing great
promise for jazz’s future as they blaze new trails while keeping a foot
in the tradition.

Pianist Josh Nelson, when not being the accompanist for half the
singers in LA, leads a small band of local cats, and his albums are
always filled with fresh ideas. This latest one is no exception, as it
shows his writing, playing and arranging skills to be on a par with
better known guys like Brad Mehldau. Here, with Larry Koonse/g, Dan
Schnelle/dr, Dave Robaire/b and a horn section of Dontae Winslow/tp,
Alan Ferber/tb and Bran Walsh/bcl, he mixes and matches moods from
elegiac solos to evocative Gil Evans-inspired small band sounds. Tunes
like “Sinking Ship” and “Dirigibles” have an alluring mix of guitar and
horns dancing around clever melodies and rhythms. Nelson’s touch is one
that is warm and calm, as he displays on the intriguing “Tesla Coil.”
Like smelling an aromatic rose.He’s coming to LA Oct 9 at Vibrato (www.vibratogrilljazz.com), so check him out.

For his debut on Mack Avenue Jazz, vibist Warren Wolf surrounds himself
with some top drawer artists such as Christian McBride/b, Peter
Martin/p, Greg Hutchinson/dr, Tim Green/sax and Jeremy Pelt/tp. The
music is varied and quite exciting, ranging from snappy little cookers
like “427 Mass Ave” and “Sweet Bread” to dreamy ballads like “How I
Feel At This Given Moment” and the standard “Emily.” He creates some
wondrous sounds on his solo spotlight “Senor Mouse” as well as
hand-is-quicker-than-the-eye as he goes toe-to-toe with McBride on the
roller coaster ride titled “One For Lenny.” As refreshing as crashing
waves at Big Sur.