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

Billy Childs – Triumvirate (Mack Avenue Records)

Veteran pianist Billy Childs has recently released a new album for 2026 called Triumvirate. Joined by the fantastic duo of bassist Matt Penman and drummer Ari Hoenig, Childs is inspired to make what I think is his best album in quite some time. The interplay between these three throughout the album is impressive, especially on the CD’s opener, “One Fleeting Moment.” Played at a finger busting tempo, these three are reacting to each other in real time, and the results are quite enjoyable to listen to. “Carefree” might be taken at a much more leisurely pace, but it’s infectious nonetheless. “Like Father, Like Son” is another barn burner, and “Heroes” may start off slowly, but as it moves on, it picks up steam. The second half of the album is dedicated to Jazz classics, and “Whisper Not” & “Ask Me Now” are played in manners in which we’d expect to hear them: “Whisper Not” is a mid-tempo swinger, Thelonious Monk’s “Ask Me Now” is one of his most played ballads, and Childs keeps that idea intact here. When we get to “Lazy Afternoon,” however, that, well…I won’t spoil the fun. You’ll just have to hear one of us play it. Triumvirate is a winner from first track to last track, and its well worth looking out for on WDCB!

Catherine Russell – Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Dot Time Records)

There are many things to love about vocalist Catherine Russell. There’s her great voice, her fantastic phrasing, her excellent choice in sidemen, and her wisdom in picking the right material on album after album. For this music director and morning show host, you can add one more in there, too: consistency. There’s not yet been a Catherine Russell record where you find yourself wondering what you’re going to get this time. You know exactly what you’ll get, a strong album of Jazz vocals with a band that’s going to hint at what Billie Holiday did at her best in the 1930’s and 40’s. Full stop. And that’s exactly what we’ve gotten on Catherine Russell Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center. A fantastic septet (with Chicagoan Ben Paterson at the piano bench), backing up Ms. Russell on eleven classics from a bygone era, played and sung with panache. You can’t really ask for more than that. And that’s why I look forward to new Catherine Russell albums. They’re consistently good. And Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center keeps that streak going.

Mike Clement – Polka Dots & Ray Bans (Cellar Music)

Guitarist Mike Clement comes right out of the gate swinging on his latest album, Polka Dots & Ray Bans. The band on this new disc also features organist Tim Duncan, drummer Gerald Watkins, Jr. and a few guests interspersed throughout the session. On “Access Granted,” Clement wastes no time letting you know what he’s getting up to. A hot and swinging tune that’s in and out in a hair over four minutes, there’s hardly a wasted note to be found. “The Tempo” sounds like it was written by members of the Motown staff in the mid-1960’s, but they forgot to pen lyrics for it.  I have no idea who “Chad Bop” is, but he seems like an incredibly affable fellow. “Checkmate” is a slick, uptempo jam that gets some impressive soloing from Clement and Duncan. “Instadaddy” benefits from the addition of Connor Stewart on the alto saxophone on a jam that recalls Grover Washington, Jr. On Polka Dots & Ray Bans, Mike Clement covers an astonishing amount of ground in ten songs, and if this is any indication of what he’s capable of in the future, then I look forward to some very funky, very mature and very swinging albums from Mr. Clement in the future.