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The Jim Self & John Chiodini Quintet: Touch and Go

By Jack Bowers
November 1, 2023
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The Jim Self & John Chiodini Quintet: Touch and Go

A quintet whose front line consists of tuba, guitar and trumpet. How does that work? Quite well, actually—at least when that front line includes tuba master

Jim Self

tuba

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Self, guitarist

John Chiodini

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">John Chiodini and trumpeter

Ron Stout

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Stout, ably supported by bassist

Ken Wild

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Wild and drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Kendall Kay, on the Jim Self and John Chiodini Quintet's album, Touch and Go.

The music they make can best be described as smooth and tasteful—although "swinging" would not be out of place either, especially on Self's sunny opener (and title song), Wild's samba-like arrangement of

J.J. Johnson

trombone
1924 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">J.J. Johnson's "Lament,"

David Angel

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">David Angel's "Prolepsis" and

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis' (or

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean's) boppish "Dig" (a.k.a. "Sweet Georgia Brown"), which closes the album. "Prolepsis" is one of three charts by guest arranger

Joey Sellers

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Sellers; the others are

Clare Fischer

piano
1928 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Clare Fischer's "Ornathardy" and

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson's "Whisper Not."

The quintet is present on all but one number, Kevin Tullius' ballad, "Susanne," which is performed as a duet by Self (on muted fluba) and Chiodini. Besides "Touch and Go," Self wrote "Triangles," Chiodini "Amber" and "Restless." Completing the engaging program are

Fats Waller

piano
1904 - 1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller's classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" and

Benny Carter

saxophone, alto
1907 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Carter's "Only Trust Your Heart." "Restless" is hardly that, a slow blues whose temper is akin to gossamer, "Triangles" a charming jazz waltz with splendid solos by all hands.

Chiodini is a superb soloist and accompanist; Self continues to teach the tuba new tricks, and Stout remains one of the jazz world's most underrated trumpeters. As for Wild and Kay, they do far more than simply keep time. As Self writes, Touch and Go is "a 'real jazz' CD in that, on pretty much every track, there are solos by ALL." Even so, no-one seems bent on outflanking the others; every phrase and note is shaped with the collective goal in mind.

The result is an excellent hour-plus of contemporary jazz, admirably performed by Self, Chiodini and their virtuosic teammates. Warmly recommended.

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Track Listing

Touch and Go; Ain��t Misbehavin��; Only Trust Your Heart; Amber; Ornathardy; Lament; Susanne; Prolepsis; Triangles; Whisper Not; Restless; Dig.

Personnel

Jim Self

tuba

John Chiodini

guitar

Ron Stout

trumpet

Kenny Wild

bass

Kendall Kay

drums

Album information

Title: Touch and Go | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Basset Hound Music

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