Howard Alden & Ken Peplowski
Pow Wow
Arbors Records

Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet
Stompin' The Blues
Arbors Records

Buddy De Franco
Charlie Cat 2
Arbors Records

Back in the 60s and 70s, there was a small jazz label (isn't that a
redundancy?) called Chiaroscuro that was dedicated to keeping the
classic acoustic mainstream jazz flame burning in the midst of an era
that was being taken over by electronic fusion. It was an unplugged
oasis, featuring some of the best music put out by oldtimers that would
have been otherwise overlooked. They don't put much out anymore except
their classic reissues, but the torch has definitely been passed to
Arbors Records. Founded in 1989 by Rachel and Mat Domber, it is
unashamedly focused on perserving small group swing-to-bop styled jazz.
Like Chiaroscuro, iIt has a catalogue that boasts of some of the best
old and young timers around: Ruby Braff, Dick Hyman, Kenny Davern, Bob
Wilber, and Bucky and John Pizzarelli. The music is a haven for those
that want to hear the joys of jazz played by the best improvisors
around.

"Pow Wow" is a reunion of the dynamic duo of tenor/clarinet maestro Ken
Peplowski and 7 string gun slinger Howard Alden. They put out a classic
live disc in 92 (if it's still in print, grab it), and have done
various small group encounters since. This one is a more than worthy
return to form; if anything, they sound even better. Peps' tone on
tenor is foggy and warm, and his clarinet is one of the woody wonders
of the world. Alden is simply the master of the 7 stringed guitar, and
can swing like a hammer thrower or cut loose like a mazeratti.
Together, they can be unabashedly romantic, as on the ebullient "Things
We Did Last Summer", or cleverly whimsical, like on the under-recorded
Ellington gem "Who Knows." The conjure up the right mix of standards
and obscurities, with Bill Evans' "Very Early" right on the money. This
is one of the reasons that jazz is simply the best music around. If you
don't like this, take up Janis Ian.

Clarinetist Buddy DeFranco set the standard for bebopping back in the
40s, and put out a ton of classic stuff on Verve and Pable in the 50s
and 60s. What's astonishing about this octogenerian is that not only
has he kept his chops intact all of these years, but his tone,
sometimes accused of sterility, has become palpably warmer and more
embracing over the years. On this disc, DeFranco teams up with
guitarists Howard Alden, Joe Cohn, bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Ed Metz
and trumpeter Lou Soloff for a set of masterful jazz. Soloff is
pristine on DeFranco's "Walk This Way", while the band snaps and
sizzles to a high stepping "Anthropology" and grooving "Joy Spring".
DeFranco eats up tunes like the lovely "By Myself", and gives them a
bel canto feel that is arresting. This guy must have a fountain of
youth in his back yard. Great times by the greatest living clarinetist.

Ben Webster-toned Harry Allen links up with freewheeling guitarist Joe
Cohn for a set that lives up to its title. With guest John Allred on
trombone, Allen drag races through originals like the wild "Don't Want
to Have To" with the fervor of 52nd Street. When long time buddy Scott
Hamilton joins in for a few of the tunes, like "You're Driving Me
Crazy" and the drop dead gorgeous "My Old Flame", it feels like the fog
rolling in at Big Sur. The rhythm section of bassist Joel Forbes and
drummer Chuck Riggs is custom made for swinging at the Daisy Chain. The
focus is on fun, and with tunes like "I Only Have Eyes For You", you'll
want to make sure there's room for swinging with your partner. People
forget that this music was made for dancing and listening. These guys
will remind you real quickly.