Warren Wolf
Wolfgang
Mack Avenue ****
Easily eclipsing earlier album Warren Wolf  (2011) the vibesman’s apparent ubiquity, mainly through his work with Christian McBride, and obvious chops have not, until now, made a huge splash. But why so here especially as the album has no fewer than three piano players appearing on different tracks alongside the malletsman who takes to marimba on just one track, the 19th century valve cornetist Jean-Baptiste Arban’s waltz ‘Le Carnaval de Venise’? Well, it’s the quality of the Baltimore-born player's tunes, and the fact there are no horns on Wolfgang. It could feel disjointed because of the different combinations of players but doesn’t because Wolf’s compositions are so strong (generally swinging, not too feelgood and with great arrangements) and all three pianists Benny Green, Aaron Goldberg and Aaron Diehl who have to be just right playing in either trio situations or duo with a top vibes player such as Wolf complement his swinging style. Christian McBride appears on three tracks including the superb take on ‘Frankie and Johnny’, a tribute to Ray Brown, where everyone comes alive. Darryl Tookes’ vocal on Ivan Lins song ‘Setembro’ seems a little out of place and the Arban waltz a trinket but they both provide extra variety, which again contributes to the overall success of the album.
Released on 20 August