As spring slowly and tentatively emerges from under a long winter, your South Dakota jazz fan dearly needs something to cheer him up. I am listening to Noah Haidu's Slipstream. It is doing the trick.
Haidu is a New York pianist and member of the group Native Soul. He is a student of Kenny Baron and Barry Harris. The personnel on Slipstream include Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, whom I have been keeping an ear to. Jon Irabagon plays a fine alto saxophone. Chris Haney plays bass like he means it. John Davis and Willie Jones III alternate on drums.
This is a very tight and well-conducted band. The music is energetic, straight ahead jazz joy. I especially like Haidu's style of playing behind his horns: leading by commenting with one phrase after another. His solos are gorgeous. Maybe the best cut on the album is 'Float', a trio piece with Haney's bass and Davis on drums. Pelt shines on 'Take Your Time'. Or maybe the best cut is the opening 'Soulstep'. That I can't make up my mind is a good sign.
All I can tell you for sure is that I liked Slipstream, and you will too. Buy it. Support your friendly neighborhood jazz man. You can hear a couple of cuts on my Live365 station.
ps. Check out the cut by Day & Taxi on that same station. It's a rich horn and drums trio. Tell 'em I sent ya.
