Jacob Jolliff - Standards, Vol. 1 (2021)

Standards, Vol. 1 is an ambitious exploration of the jazz canon viewed through the lens of virtuosic mandolin playing. Jacob Jolliff, widely recognized for his tenure with the Yonder Mountain String Band and as a Berklee College of Music alumnus, uses this release to pivot from progressive bluegrass structures toward the sophisticated harmonies and improvisational demands of post-bop. Recorded in Oregon with pianist and engineer Randy Porter, the production delivers audiophile-grade clarity, emphasizing the nuanced interaction within the quartet.

The repertoire features compositions by Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter, and Benny Golson, highlighting Jolliff's mission to integrate the mandolin into the modern jazz environment as a peer to the saxophone or piano. The rhythm section, featuring Jeff Picker and Alwyn Robinson, provides a flexible yet disciplined foundation, allowing the bandleader to showcase phenomenal speed and melodic ingenuity. The album is significant both as a testament to Jolliff's technical maturity and as a successful genre crossover between acoustic string music and straight-ahead jazz.

Bass – Jeff Picker
Drums – Alwyn Robinson
Illustration, Design – Setty Hopkins
Mandolin – Jacob Jolliff
Mastered By – Randy Leroy*
Mixed By – Dave Sinko
Piano – Randy Porter
Producer, Engineer – Randy Porter

Tracklist:
1-1 Jacob Jolliff - I'll Be Seeing You [7:00]
1-2 Jacob Jolliff - Moose the Mooche [4:59]
1-3 Jacob Jolliff - Everything Happens to Me [5:29]
1-4 Jacob Jolliff - Have You Met Miss Jones [6:53]
1-5 Jacob Jolliff - Tricotism [4:56]
1-6 Jacob Jolliff - Nica's Dream [5:42]
1-7 Jacob Jolliff - Inner Urge [5:52]
1-8 Jacob Jolliff - Turn out the Stars [4:58]