NEW RELEASES : The Shoemakes Get a Magical Assist from Holman’s Big Band

CHARLIE SHOEMAKE

“Strollin’ ”

Chase Music Group

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Shoemake, the post be-bop-oriented vibist who composes in the Gershwin-Kern tradition, knows quality material--the title track is a Horace Silver classic--and inspiring talent. Among the first-rate artists joining him here: pianist Billy Childs, guitarist Ron Eschete and vocalist Sandi Shoemake, his spouse.

Still, the coup de maitre is Shoemake’s inclusion of Bill Holman’s big band on six of the collection’s 10 tracks (the other four are by a quintet). Holman is a master of large jazz ensemble composition and arranging but, sadly, he has few albums to show for it. His entire U.S. output for the last decade includes only three newly released albums--one a solo project on JVC, and two others with Shoemake--and two reissues including last year’s Mosaic Records box set of his work with Stan Kenton. Holman’s orchestral writing is magical, brightening everything it touches. It’s ethereal, yet highly rhythmic. His swirling, then darting, lines enliven the title track and his tonal clusters, recalling pastel clouds by Monet, surround Sandi Shoemake’s impassioned vocal on “Everything I Have Is Yours.” The leader’s natty, precise style is showcased throughout, though his energized efforts on “Dizzy Atmosphere” are a standout.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent). A rating of five stars is reserved for classic reissues or retrospectives.