Houston Person, one of the most successful Jazz musicians working today and current #1 on the Jazzweek Jazz Charts with his latest release "Naturally", will be our guest in Hour 1 of The New Jazz Thing, Monday December 17, 2012, 6-8 PM PT! Houston was our guest at Jazz Live back in April, 2006 when we did a remote from Jazz In The Park at Balboa Park (thanks to Holly Hoffman) and it will be great to catch up with him as he's had a string of great successes since then! There are some reviews and other links after the split, but to get you in the mood, here's Houston playing Dizzy's Coca Cola in NYC in August 2012. Can't wait!
Critical Jazz on "Naturally": "Houston Person is like fine wine, he simply gets better with age and his latest release Naturally shows there is plenty of gas still left in the tank!" "The set list while somewhat familiar to most is also bordering on the eclectic and that seems to be Person's "m.o." This is a beautiful thing, instead of being treated to a predictable set of shop worn standards we receive nine stellar tunes all built around a beautiful melody and a subtle sense of swing that is ever present in virtually all Houston Person recordings that come to mind. A more versatile tenor player on the planet? Good luck...Easily one of my year end "Best Of's" for 2012."
AllMusic's Steve Leggett on "Naturally": "This set, recorded in July of 2012 at the famed Van Gelder Recording Studio, finds Person assembling a jazz supergroup of sorts with the great Cedar Walton on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums, and together they make a joyous, smooth, and open sound that feels comfortable, warm, and, well, natural. He's simply an American treasure."
