The N.Y. Hardbop Quintet

This excellent group was formed in 1990 as a quartet comprised of trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, pianist Keith Saunders, bassist Bim Strasberg, and drummer Eddie Ornowski. In 1991, the band became a quintet with the addition of tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon; Ornowski departed in 1996 and was replaced by Clifford Barbaro. Their repertoire and style does stick to hard bop (style-wise of the Lee Morgan/Hank Mobley era), but the many originals and the fresh renditions of standards keep the group from sounding derivative. The New York Hardbop Quintet performs regularly in (surprise) Ne...