Joe Farnsworth Quartet - My Heroes (2015) [Hi-Res]

Joe Farnsworth is undoubtedly one of the best drummers today in the more traditional, straight-ahead school of jazz. He has appeared numerous times on Venus Records releases led by Eric Alexander, but this time he took the lead and made a fabulous album in tribute to his heroes, legendary jazz drummers. Farnsworth dedicates one tune for each drummer, either his own composition or a song associated with the drummer in question. They are, in the order of the tunes, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Billy Higgins, Art Taylor, Alan Dawson, Buddy Rich, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Baby Dodds, and Roy Haynes.

As expected, his bandmates and long-time collaborators (Eric Alexander, Harold Mabern, and Nat Reeves) do a fantastic job, but the focus of this album is clearly on Farnsworth and his fantastic drumming. Highly recommended to fans of hard bop and of jazz drumming!