What's New on WDCB... with Paul Abella

Christopher McBride & The Whole Proof – The Hang, The Hustle, The Path (KYO Music)

Saxophonist Christopher McBride, a Chicago native who has moved to New York, has a new album out on KYO Music called The Hang, The Hustle, The Path. Clearly inspired by straight ahead Jazz and throwback R&B, it sounds like a breath of fresh air. There’s a base quartet playing on the album consisting of McBride on saxophones, Jon Thomas on keyboards, Barry Stephenson on bass and Michael Piolet on drums. They’re augmented by trumpeters Josh Evans and Wayne Tucker and guitarist Marcus Machado. Sometimes the R&B meets the Jazz head on, like on “Funky Good Senor Blues” that splits the Horace Silver classic with the groove from James Brown’s “Doin’ it to Death.” Sometimes, the Jazz is flavored by just a hint of funk, like on “Chi to NY,” and sometimes, that formula goes right out the window, like on the Latin tinged “Punta Cana,” and Roy Hargrove’s fingerprints are all over “Jeanette.” All in all, The Hang, The Hustle, The Path is a pretty fantastic excursion into one Chicagoan’s conception of modern Jazz.

Affinity Trio – New Outlook (Origin Records)

The Affinity Trio is trumpeter Eric Jacobson, pianist Pamela York and bassist Clay Schaub. New Outlook is their second album, following 2023’s Hindsight. Much like its predecessor, New Outlook is a solid album from a group that should be getting ears beyond their combined Chicago/Milwaukee base. Kicking off with the brisk “Onward,” Jacobson weaves a great solo while York and Schaub swing effortlessly. The next two songs, the standard “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and Pamela York’s “New Outlook” are both airy, mid-tempo gems. Sam Jones’ “Bittersweet” gives the trio a chance to prove just how hard they can swing, and that they really have no need for a drummer. Larry Willis’ modern standard, “To Wisdom, The Prize” is played beautifully, and the set-closing “Una Mas” from Kenny Dorham’s pen is kind of Latin, kind of funky, and totally fun. I’m glad to see that Affinity Trio has made another album, and that New Outlook is as nice of a listen as Hindsight was. I look forward to sharing it with you!

Nat Adderley, Jr. – Took So Long (self-produced)

I don’t know why Nat Adderley, Jr. Took So Long to release his debut album at the age of 70, but here we are in 2025, checking out his piano playing in a trio setting on a handful of Jazz standards, a few pop classics and one well-written original composition. Joined by a number of different bassists and drummers, Adderley’s swinging piano is the constant throughout. There are moments when Adderley’s arranging skills make for some very cool reimaginations of well-worn songs. Leon Russell’s “Superstar” as a samba? “On Green Dolphin Street” with the groove from “Poinciana”? A hard swinging version of Stevie Wonder’s “You and I”? These are just a few of the highlights to be found on Took So Long. I’m sure you’ll hear a few of your own highlights along the way, too.