Jim Self - Touch and Go (2023)

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, guitarist John Chiodini and trumpeter Ron Stout, ably supported by bassist Ken Wild and drummer 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's "Lament," David Angel's "Prolepsis" and Miles Davis' (or 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; the others are Clare Fischer's "Ornathardy" and 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's classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" and 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.~By Jack Bowers