Nick Hempton/Cory Weeds: Horns Locked

CELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED FEBRUARY 28)

Other than the release date, there is nothing radically new about Horns Locked, the latest release from saxophonists Nick Hempton and Cory Weeds. The recording does not break any new jazz ground. It is not a cross-cultural or cross-genre musical experiment. It is not a musical manifesto on politics, gender or human rights. It is a joyous blowing session inspired by the classic tenor battles of Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Johnny Griffin. It is pure and simple, soulful and greasy and swinging and honest. That was the only agenda Hempton and Weeds had in mind when they performed with Nick Peck on Hammond B3 and Jesse Cahill on drums at Frankie’s, a legendary Vancouver jazz club. Horns Locked captures the player’s excitement and the enthusiasm of the crowd on eight tunes, some of which were recorded at the club and some at an impromptu studio session. Hempton and Weeds lock horns on many tunes familiar to fans of saxophonists. These include James Moody’s “Last Train from Overbrook,” Dexter Gordon’s “Soy Califa,” and Gene Ammons’ “The One Before This.” Hempton contributes “Change for a Dollar” and Weeds adds an appropriately titled “Conn Men” to the sessiob, both are swinging 12-bar blues. One of the saxophonists (sorry, I can’t tell which one), plays “Polkadots and Moonbeams” in true ballad style and both join in on a classic swing approach to “When You’re Smiling.” Whether it’s ballads, standards, up-tempo blues, Latin tunes or shuffles, Peck and Cahill keep the fires burning with their solid and soulful playing. Although there is nothing radically new with Horns Locked, you are sure to enjoy the hard-swinging soul jazz of Hempton and Weeds. It is obvious they certainly did!

BOTTOM LINE: If your jazz diet is craving some “grease,” saxophonists Nick Hempton and Cory Weeds serve it up on Horns Locked. This soulful, swinging and sax heavy date is as tasty as the classic tenor sax battles that inspired it. Organist Nick Peck and drummer Jesse Cahill spice up the main ingredients — the exuberance and joy of Hempton and Weeds — with energized support and solos.