Everything's Coming Up Weeds

Cory Weeds (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cellar Live
• ASIN: B002BIGCRY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,301 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weeds' Killer, August 24, 2009

By 

Rick Erben (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything's Coming Up Weeds (Audio CD)

Every now and then an album comes along that jumps right out at one - hittin' on all cylinders. Such is the case with this new release from Cory Weeds. Weeds is owner of the Vancouver, BC Cellar Restaurant and the Cellar Live record label that has been issuing numerous fine sessions recorded at his venue. He is also a fine tenor saxophone player, as evidenced by this recording - his second (preceded by last year's "Big Weeds"). "Everything's Coming Up Weeds" is a marvelous post-bop session that showcases the saxophonist in a quintet setting featuring a great group including trumpeter Jim Rotondi, pianist Ross Taggart, bassist John Webber and drummer Willie Jones III.

Names of themselves do not a good session make. There must be a certain chemistry, the presence of which ignites all of the artists in both group cohesiveness and individual fire. That is what is on display and contributes to the satisfaction one obtains while listening to the album.

The opening track, "B.B.'s Blue Blues" by pianist Taggart comes right out of the old hard-bop school with an upbeat, bluesy theme as foundation for the soloists. "Biru Kirusai", co-written by Rotondi and Eric Alexander, has a Japanese flavor to its insistent minor melody and the tune smokes. Rotondi takes the first solo with perfectly placed, soaring notes in his concise style that nicely balances soul and technique. Weeds comes in next with a beautifully rich tone and progressively captivating choruses, further increasing the ante of the tune's groove for Taggart to carry-on at the piano. He does so with a beautifully constructed solo embracing chords and single note lines that rhythmically and spiritually continue to raise the excitement level on this number.

Taggart's "Ella's Walk" is a brisk, boppish melody featuring Weeds' agile tenor work and Rotondi's muted horn. Again, Taggart at the piano impresses. "Little Unknown One" by Weeds is a lovely ballad written with the care exercised by the legendary "standards" composers. It begs for lyrics. The tune is done in a quartet setting with some fine lyrical work by the leader and sensitive piano by Taggart as (and throughout the album) bassist Webber and drummer Jones provide steadfast, tasteful support. "I've Never Been In Love Before" features straight-ahead blowing along with the opportunity to hear drummer Jones step out with a solo.

"Bailin' On Lou" is an in-the-pocket cooker, this time giving John Webber a chance to solo; Taggart's "Cyclaman" is a tender ballad and Weeds' "The Pour" a number reminiscent of Art Blakey And His Jazz Messengers. There's a lot to like on this fine recording by Cory Weeds and company.