The Memphis Hang

This CD's title, The Memphis Hang, may make it sound like the music on this lively set was made at a very loose jam session that took place at 3 in the morning. It is true that the music was performed (as it says on the liner notes) "with no preconceived notions," but it is not sound explorations or filled with freely improvised and intuitive group improvisations. In reality this is a reunion of four musical friends who are familiar with each other's playing. The music is filled with blues, standards, and obscurities, sometimes punctuated by quotes from other songs. Tuba player Jim Shearer can sound like he is in a brass band but at other times comes across as a bop-based soloist. On Big Bill Broonzy's "Not When I've Been Drinkin,'" he quotes the entire blues chorus that Lester Young played in the 1957 telecast of The Sound Of Jazz. On "Blue Turning Gray Over You" via overdubbing, he forms a tuba quartet to re-create a recorded trombone solo; it's not as scary as it sounds! Charlie Wood contributes good-time vocals (in the spirit but in a much better voice than Leon Redbone) along with some fine organ and piano playing. Billy Gibson's harmonica is a major asset to the core group while the guest appearances of trumpeter Tom Clary are quite welcome. Ranging from Fats Waller to Thelonious Monk with a bow towards Charles Mingus ("'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat""), this is a consistently fun set of spirited yet relaxed music that, come to think of it, does sound like a late-night hang.