Claffy, Alexander

Cellar Music, 2026, CD
Instrument: Guitar

Issue: 32.2

Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
O's Jazz Ruler

Performance: 4
Performance Chart

Sound: 4
Sound Chart

Score: 86
Score Chart

O’s Notes: Jazz bassist Alexander Claffy leads a quintet with Jaleel Shaw (a-sax), Seamus Blake (t-sax), Kevin Hayes (p) and Bill Stewart (d) for Alive In Philadelphia Vol. 1. The music was recorded live at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, March 2025. This is a fine set that invites repeated listening. They open swinging on “She”, then chop it up on ”7.5”, and slow things down on “Hard Times Killing Floor Blues” preceded with a strong bass solo by Claffy. Pianist Kevin Hayes softens things on the introduction to “Oriental Folk Song” before they wrap up swinging with Coltrane’s “Just For The Love”.

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Publicist: Lisa Reedy Promotions