(Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz) The Cookers (Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Craig Handy, George Cables, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart) - Believe - 2012, WEB, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Believe is The Cooker's third release in as many years, celebrating the all-star septet's fifth anniversary as a working group. More than just a collective of high-profile scene veterans (named after Freddie Hubbard's live 1965 Blue Note recording Night of the Cookers), the lineup's impressive credentials collectively span from the acoustic hard bop of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers to the electrified funk of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi ensemble—encapsulating the entire spectrum of jazz tradition in the process. Founded by trumpet player and musical director David Weiss, the band features the stellar frontline of trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxophonist Billy Harper and alto saxophonist Craig Handy, supported by the top drawer rhythm section of pianist George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart.
Continuing a pattern established on its previous efforts, Cast the First Stone (Plus Loin Music, 2011) and Warriors (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2010), this vibrant session consists primarily of lesser-known originals drawn from its members' respective songbooks, illuminating their gifts as notable composers as well as intrepid improvisers. Opening with the muscular "Believe, For It Is True," from Harper's The Believer (Baystate, 1980), the ensemble quickly shifts gears from fervent swing to atmospheric, Milesian balladry on McBee's previously unrecorded "Temptation(s)." Their ability to elegantly segue between subtly divergent moods is pervasive throughout the date's nine selections, which range from the testimonial fanfare of Harper's "Quest" and the strident angularity of McBee's "Tight Squeeze" to the buoyant euphony of Hart's "Naaj" and the radiant lyricism of Cables' "But He Knows."
Revealing years of experience as both sidemen and bandleaders, The Cookers bring a sense of egoless conviction to the proceedings. Nowhere is their dedication to collaboration more explicit than the record's sole cover, a rhapsodic reading of Wayne Shorter's incendiary Jazz Messengers classic, "Free For All." Serving as the elastic foundation for a series of stratospheric solos (with Harper's turbulent tenor tirade a highlight), the members' keen sensitivity to the tune's formal constraints balances knowing restraint with impetuous expressionism, effectively summarizing the underlying sophistication that makes The Cookers much more than just another supergroup. (Troy Collins)

The Cookers' third CD is a bit more diverse than their earlier efforts, though still featuring the same septet (tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss, alto saxophonist Craig Handy, pianist George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart). Harper's staccato "Believe, For It Is True" is an unusual opener, never letting up on the tension, with the focus on intense solos by the composer and Weiss, along with intricate, demanding ensembles. The Cables-penned "Ebony Moonbeams" has an infectious Latin undercurrent, showcasing Henderson's expressive, vocal-like horn, along with strong solos by Handy and the pianist. The sole tune not written by a member of the ensemble is an explosive rendition of Wayne Shorter's hard bop classic "Free for All," an extended workout that captures the energy of the '60s but with a modern touch. McBee's abstract "Tight Squeeze" has an eerie air, with abstract solos, while Hart's upbeat post-bop vehicle "Naaj" wraps the sessions up with a flourish. (Ken Dryden)

Supergroups in general and jazz in particular have a particularly short shelf life normally followed by the tag "one night only." The Cookers are perhaps the exception to the musical rule with "Believe" their third release marking their fifth year together as a working band and their debut for Motema Records. This all star septet continues to draw upon their myriad of influences to create a special brand of swing all their own.
The founder of The Cookers is trumpet player David Weiss who does not hesitate in using their very valid sports analogy where teams have attempted to buy a title and have would up with precious little to show for their efforts. The musical resumes involved in this band include Billy Harper have worked as a member of groups led by Lee Morgan and Max Roach. Trumpet player Eddie Henderson and drummer Billy Hart have both worked with Herbie Hancock. Pianist George Cables worked with Dexter Gordon. Bassist Cecil McBee anchored Charles Lloyd's 1960 quartet which also included such luminaries as Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette. Above all else, this is a band. A true working ensemble in every sense of the word yet the vast and varied myriad of influences they draw from keep their music fresh, vibrant and with a direction sense of lyrical purpose. Believe consists of music written almost entirely by band members themselves. The Cookers decided to dig deep and the musical gems uncovered are priceless.
Opening with the edgy "Believe, For It Is True" from the 1980 Billy Harper release The Believer it is clear the band is in it to win as they say. One of the more engaging tunes is the more avant garde "Tight Squeeze" from Cecil McBee's Unspoken. A tune that is rich in harmonic texture but oddly accessible every step of the way. George Cables helps dial the intensity back with the more tender "But He Knows." The incredible aspect to "Believe" is that both performance and compositional styles of each member work together in a type of harmonic cohesion rare in a small ensemble much less that of a septet.
There is a wonderful ebb and flow with adventurous harmonic overtones of controlled sonic fury coupled with an introspection of years of dedication and believing in something that each member finds truly inspiring.
A first rate release from beginning to end. Style and substance galore, no filler.
5 Stars!