Music Monday: Catalyst, Miguel Zenón, and Bennie Maupin

Last week Bennie Maupin turned 85 and it seems fitting to once again share his great first album as bandleader, The Jewel in the Lotus from 1974. It’s not an exaggeration to call this one of the best jazz albums of the 1970s and perhaps one of the best debut albums a leader ever. It’s simply spectacular with Maupin melding together the sounds of Herbie Hancock and the diverse rhythm section of Buster Williams, Billy Heart, Freddie Watts, and Bill Summers. At no point does the percussion become overwhelming and Maupin’s sax and Charles Sullivan’s horn manage to tell stories supported by Hancock’s keys. Check it out:

I’ve also enjoyed Miguel Zenón’s latest release, Vanguardia Subtérranea (2025) which is apparently a live date from the Village Vanguard.  Zenón’s playing reminds me a bit of James Brandon Lewis in that it has just enough of an edge to be compelling (to me, at least), but remains anchored in the traditional idiom of jazz music. For Zenón, this involves blending Latin Jazz, hard bop, and occasionally raucous moments. It got “Album of the Day” treatment at Bandcamp. 

Finally, I noticed that Catalyst’s 1973 album Perception is getting a re-release on vinyl. Catalyst is one of those under appreciated bands whose reputation among “those who know” often exceeds the quality of the music. That said, if you’ve not checked out Catalyst, you really should. I got interested in them while enjoying the output of the 1970s Philadelphia music scene (and especially the work of Odean Pope). I like them and I particularly like Pope’s playing. You can listen to the band’s four albums below. Perception was originally released on the Muse label and maybe I need to check that label out.