Scott Whitfield, Christian Jacob, Kevin Axt & Peter Erskine - New Jazz Standards Vol. 2 (2016)

In this second volume of trumpeter Carl Saunders’ compositions he again produces, does not play and gives another horn player top billing. Volume 1 featured the late flutist Sam Most. This time, trombonist Scott Whitfield is the putative leader and primary soloist. He applies his virtuosity to a dozen of Saunders’ tunes, most of them original from the ground up, a few based on the chord structures of familiar jazz compositions or the blues. Experienced listeners will have no difficultly recognizing, for instance, the inspirations for “Another Tune For Bernie” or “Big Darlin’,” though most of Saunders’ compositions demonstrate originality and harmonic ingenuity.
Whitfield is master of a cranky and demanding instrument. He recalls the virtuosity of Frank Rosolino and Carl Fontana, with their capacity for dazzling speed and flurries of notes in the stratosphere. Yet, as in “I Remember Thad”— inspired by the late trumpeter Thad Jones—Whitfield demonstrates lyrical tenderness that recalls another side of his persona, as a singer of duets with his vocalist wife Ginger Berglund. The trombonist has support from a blue ribbon Los Angeles rhythm section. Bassist Kevin Axt and pianist Christian Jacob have honed their togetherness through years in the Tierney Sutton Band and work seamlessly with drummer Peter Erskine in support of Whitfield. Through overdubbing, on some tracks Whitfield is a trombone duo or choir, particularly affecting on “Big Darlin,’” and the joyful ”Gamma Count.” “Juarez” has three Whitfields intersecting in a free-for-all. It’s a happy album.