Legendary trumpeter Gerard Presencer pops up on the upcoming release La Gare

Sounding in fine fettle but oh it's been so long since we have come across even a guest spot by legendary UK 1990s hard bop trumpeter Gerard Presencer - Groove Travels some seven years ago with the Danish Radio Big Band must have been the last time. Long exiled from these shores Gerard pops up on Danish saxophonist Andreas Toftemark La Gare (April) in a quartet setting recording in Copenhagen where Toftemark is also joined by bassist Matthias Petri, pianist Calle Brickman and drummer Andreas Svendsen. Mostly originals of the leader's, the title refers to a Paris jazz club. Presencer is on most of the tracks including the lilting 'Waltz For Alex' above. Look for the full album in November. Photo: Danish Radio

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A pretty laidback album that while it is not a challenging listen or seeks to change the world scores plenty of victory goals. Saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh with piano icon Kenny Barron, bassist Joe Martin and drummer Johnathan Blake pore over standards and give them a lot of love - Barron's comping is as beautiful as ever and the pace Blake finds time and time again helps give the tunes a lot of life. Sabbagh's tenor sound has a firm Stan Getz-like authority to it. Recorded in a US studio in late-2020 tunes include Tadd Dameron’s 'On a Misty Night,' Billy Strayhorn’s 'A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing' some deftly delivered Sabbagh tunes and a nod to Monk on 'We See' and 'Ask Me Now.'

Daily jazz blog, Marlbank

Legendary trumpeter Gerard Presencer pops up on the upcoming release La Gare

Jerome Sabbagh, Vintage, Sunnyside ***1/2