Wolf, Warren - Warren Wolf [CD]

On his eponymous debut, Warren Wolf will make it as apparent to jazz fans as it already is to insiders that the 31-year-old vibraphonist is the next major voice on his instrument. He is joined by a unit of authoritative swingers: bassist Christian McBride, pianist Peter Martin, drummer Greg Hutchinson, alto and soprano saxophonist Tim Green, and, on two tracks, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt. Wolf offers a ten-piece program that admirably represents his singular blend of efflorescent chops, muscular attack, lyric sensibility, harmonic acumen, encyclopedic knowledge of hardcore jazz vocabulary, tireless groove and downright musicality. "I'm trying to bring forth what most cats did back in the day, coming out right at you swinging, nice and hard, not a lot of hard melodies or weird time signatures," Wolf says. "I like to play really hard, fast and kind of flashy. I like to take it to a whole other level." Personnel: Warren Wolf (vibes, marimba), Tim Green (alto and soprano saxophone), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Peter Martin (piano, Fender Rhodes), Christian McBride (bass), Greg Hutchinson (drums)