Tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds never ceases to amaze. Every time an album by Cory crosses my desk, I'm always blown away by how great it sounds. Good taste can't be taught. You either have it or you don't, and Cory has loads of it. That's clearly evident on his newly released album, Home Cookin' (Cellar Music). [Photo above of Cory Weeds by Steve Mynett]
This time around, Cory is leading a little big band under the direction of Jill Townsend, who has her own big band and also arranged three of the songs here. Recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, the 11-member band features Brad Turner and Chris Davis (tp), Brian Harding and Jim Hopson (tb), Steve Kaldestad (as), Cory Weeds and James Danderfer (ts), Dave Say (bar), Chris Gestrin (p), John Lee (b), Jesse Cahill (d), Bill Coon, Michael Weiss and Fred Stride (arr) and Jill Townsend (dir,arr).
The band chose a terrific mix of originals, two by Horace Silver, one by Thad Jones and a standard originally arranged by Oliver Nelson [photo above of the band at the Warehouse Studio in March, by Steve Mynett]:
- Home Cookin' (by Horace Silver; arranger: Jill Townsend)
- Corner Kisses (by Bill Weeds, Cory's father and guitarist; arranger: Bill Coon)
- Blossoms in May (by Cory Weeds; arranger: Coon)
- Power Station (composed and arranged by Michael Weiss)
- Thedia (by Thad Jones; arranged: Coon and Townsend)
- Lullaby of the Leaves (standard; arranged by Oliver Nelson and adapted by Fred Stride)
- Metamorphosis (by Silver; arranger: Townshend)
Cory has a few things going on. In addition to performing and recording, he runs a Canadian record label—Cellar Music Group. On this album, Cory takes the tenor saxophone solos and sounds better than ever. The same is true for each member of the ensemble. The arrangements are also first rate. They are voiced in a way that make the band seem much larger. [Photo above of the band by Steve Mynett]
I particularly love Jill Townsend's arrangements of the Horace Silver pieces. She not only gets the pianist-composer's feel but also expresses them lightly, shrewdly and confidently. In truth, there isn't a bad chart here, and the band is tight and in the pocket. You just put this one on and let it sail all the way through. Top-grade work by a swinging band in the Western corner of Canada. [Photo above of Jill Townsend]
And I'm guessing the album above had a wee influence on the cover design?
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Cory Weeds' Home Cookin' (Cellar Music) on streaming platforms and here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Thad Jones's Thedia...
And here's Horace Silver's Metamorphosis...
