Label: Origin Records, 2025

Personnel - Michael Dease: trombone; Linda May Han Oh: bass; Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts: drums; Brooklyn Dease (disc1: #1,4); Nicole Glover: tenor saxophone (disc 2); Geoffrey Keezer: piano (disc 2); Jared Beckstead-Craan: bass (disc2: #4,6).

If you’re in the mood for consummate straight-ahead jazz that flows as crisp as a mountain stream, then trombonist Michael Dease’s City Life will certainly satisfy. Dease, a Michigan native, pays tribute to fellow Michigander Gregg Hill, a gifted composer whose work has also been interpreted by bassists Rodney Whitaker and Dave Sharp. City Life is a double album, with the first disc spotlighting a core trio—bassist Linda May Han Oh and multifaceted drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, recording together for the first time— and the second disc expanding into a quintet with saxophonist Nicole Glover and pianist Geoffrey Keezer. The set also includes covers of tunes by J.J. Johnson, Sharel Cassity, Greg Tardy, and Emily Remler.

It is important to note that there’s plenty of bounce and energy throughout. Disc one opens with “Willow Walks In”, a 12-bar blues rendered with a prominently groovy feel. “City Life” bustles with swinging vivacity before Dease and Oh trade fours with Watts. “Movie Theme” features the sweet voice of Dease’s young daughter, Brooklyn, alongside a nice trombone solo. Sharel Cassity’s “Say Whaaat” is delivered with jaunty lilt and upbeat spirit, while JJ Johnson’s swoony tune “Sweet Georgia Gillespie” turns into a hard-swinging romp, magnified by melodically inventive improvisations from the trio. My favorite piece, however, is “Danger Zone”, which features harmonious synchronicity between trombone and bass, propelled by Watts’ thrilling groove.

Disc two is even more colorful, offering streamlined dynamics without sacrificing grit. It opens with two excellent Hill compositions, “Tea Time” and “The Classic II”, both exuding refined harmonic appeal and vibrant soloing. Dease and Glover form a lively frontline, exchanging fours with Watts on the breakneck-paced “Skittles”. The album concludes with Hill’s “Lafayette Square”, but not before another rendition of a JJ Johnson’s piece - the tenderly brushed ballad “Enigma”.

This is an undeniably strong record, a confident embrace of jazz tradition that finds Dease at the top of his game, joined by deeply seasoned musical partners.

Favorite Tracks:
03 (CD1) - Danger Zone ► 04 (CD1) - Movie Theme ► 01 (CD2) - Tea Time ► 02 (CD2) - The Classic II