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Jerome Jennings: The Beast
By
Paula West
vocals
Christian McBride
bassb.1972

Bria Skonberg
trumpet
Craig Handy
saxophoneb.1962
For those who've appreciated Jennings' work in other bands, The Beast will be a welcome opportunity to hear him expand on what he's brought to those groups; for those who know nothing about Jennings, this will be a massive eye-opener and an introduction to a monster talent. He's a drummer who's well-schooled in hard bop and well-versed in modern jazz dialects, a composer who puts forward his ideas with clarity, and a leader who knows what he wants and how to get it.
The Beast awakens with "Love The Drums," a winner from the pen of

Jon Burr
bass, acousticb.1953

Art Blakey
drums1919 - 1990
Jennings marks himself as an eclectic by following the opener with his arrangement of New Edition's "Cool It Now." He turns the R&B leaning original version on its head, transforming it into something all its own. There's a chorale-like opening, complete with dramatic pause and a

Max Roach
drums1925 - 2007

Sean Jones
trumpetb.1978
The seven songs that follow further broaden the scope of this album. "Ice Cream Dreams" reshapes Lester Waas' version of Arthur Pryor's "The Whistler And His Dog"a.k.a. the "Mister Softee" ice cream truck musicinto a buoyant waltz that finds Jennings cutting loose over a vamp, "You Don't What Love Is" puts guest vocalist

Jazzmeia Horn
vocals
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor1909 - 1973

Freddie Hubbard
trumpet1938 - 2008

Tony Reedus
drums1959 - 2008

Howard Wiley
drumsMany albums released at the tail end of the year tend to get lost in the shuffle, both in terms of critical acknowledgement and commercial terms, and it would be a horrible shame for that to happen to this one. It's certainly one of the last great musical gifts that 2016 has to offer, and it deserves to be played loud and proud. It's as good as they come for debuts, and on par with the best out there at any stage. ">
Track Listing
Love The Drums; Cool It Now; Ice Cream Dreams; You Don't Know What Love Is; Did You Call Her Today; The Core; Cammy's Smile; The Beast; New Beginnings.
Personnel
Jerome Jennings
drumsJerome Jennings: drums, percussion (9); Sean Jones: trumpet, flugelhorn (2); Howard Wiley: tenor saxophone; Dion Tucker: trombone; Christian Sands: piano; Christian McBride: bass; Jazzmeia Horn: vocals (4).
Album information
Title: The Beast | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Jerome Jennings Concerts

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George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY

George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY

George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY

George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY

George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY

George Cables Quartet
Smoke Jazz & Supper ClubNew York, NY
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