For those unaware, the brand new album from Isrea Butler entitled Congo Lament was inspired by Ike Quebec’s 1962 recording Easy Living and trombonist Bennie Green’s 1959 record Original Jazz Sound: Swing the Blues.

As Butler himself reveals, The idea to record this material came up during a conversation with my friend and band mate Doug Lawrence while we were touring with the Count Basie Orchestra in Europe.

When I first heard Bennie Green playing alongside one of my other trombone heroes, J.J. Johnson, I was captivated by their sound and style. So for my debut recording as a leader, I needed to pay tribute to these two jazz greats that still ring within me so deeply.

1. Congo Lament (5:40)
2. I.Q. Shuffle (5:11)
3. Easy Living (6:40)
4. B.G.’s Groove 05:36 5. Pennies from Heaven (5:00)
6. Que’s Pills (4:56)
7. See See Rider (6:58)

The new recording opens on the fervently impassioned Congo Lament and then we get brought forth the playfully flirtatious I.Q. Shuffle, the languishing, and aptly-titled Easy Living and the perky B.G.’s Groove.

Along next is the uplifting Pennies from Heaven with the album rounding out on the rhythmic, fervently-charged Que’s Pills, coming to a righteous close on the dutifully sculpted See See Rider.

Musicians:
Isrea Butler - trombone
Douglas Lawrence - tenor saxophone
David Loeb - piano
Steve Flora - bass
Bob Chmel - drums