Jam Session, Vol. 17

Since producer Norman Granz sold Pablo in the mid-'80s, regular recordings of jam sessions by any one label have been infrequent. One happy exception has been the European-based Steeplechase, which has regularly gathered musicians together to play off one another's strengths. This volume features trumpeters Ryan Kisor and Brad Goode with veteran John McNeil, accompanied by Andy LaVerne (practically a house pianist for the label), bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Matt Wilson, the latter one of the most in-demand drummers of his generation. Egos are set aside as the men work to complement one another's contributions to the date. LaVerne leads things off with a pair of medium tempo originals, followed by a mini-medley of ballads with each song showcasing an individual trumpeter with the rhythm section. Goode also contributed several tunes, including the well-named "Demented Blues," which sounds like a mariachi band with evil plans during some of the ensemble passages. The jam session is still quite a viable project, especially when players of such high caliber are gathered together with the tapes rolling.