BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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ALBUM REVIEW
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CINCINNATI JAZZ MUSICIANS
J Curve Cincinnati
Jazz Collection Vol. 1
J Curve; 
$15.95 CD; no cassette
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Dedicated to "Father John Heim" for his "significant and enduring contribution to the jazz art form," this 13-track CD is the best, most detailed overview of the area's jazz scene ever attempted.
The 68-plus minutes of music opens with the sound of Art Gore's drums as he leads his quintet (Mike Wade, trumpet; Steve Schmidt, piano; Jim Anderson, bass; and Scott Burns, tenor sax) thorough his original "Little Man."
Jazz is put to many uses in the Tristate, and most of them are documented here. There's the continental, cafe stylings of the Sylvain Acher Quartet, featuring Paul Patterson's elegantly swinging violin. There's the big-city, big-band swagger of the PsychoAcoustic Orchestra, muscling its way through John Coltrane's "Cousin Mary" with some of the tightest ensemble work this reviewer has heard on disc.
This is a town known for its piano-led groups, and there are plenty of good ones here -- Phil DeGreg's trio (Bob Bodley, bass; Steve Barnes, drums) with trumpeter Brad Goode; the class act of pianist Frank Vincent and singer Larry Kinley assaying a PG "All of You" (for the more adult version, listen to Rosemary Clooney's complete, unexpurgated take on the Cole Porter classic).
Speaking of Rosie, Mary Ellen Tanner proves herself heir to the pop standard queendom with her "But Not For Me," featuring the Lee Stolar Trio with John Von Ohlen on drums.
Bill Caffie's mellifluously lugubrious vocalizing brings out the pathos in "You've Changed" with stellar support from the Steve Schmidt Organ Trio.
Then there are the bands: Standard Time's hard-bopping "Chicken Fat's Revenge"; the sleek ensemble work of Cohesion Jazz Ensemble's "Instantaneous"; the classically funky organ trio sound of Wayne Yeager, Ray Felder and Bobby Scott working out on Tadd Dameron's "Lady Bird"; and the masterfully light touch of the Ron Enyard Trio with flutist Sandy Suskind on "Beautiful Love."
Then there are the guitarists. All three of the Cincinnati Jazz Guitar Giants from last year's Memorial Hall concert are here: Kenny Poole with the Vincent - Kinley group; Cal Collins leading a group with Rusty Burge on vibes on "Bernie's Tune"; and Wilbert Longmire bringing it all back home, closing the set with a "Sugar" that moves from forceful octaves to tricky triplets into a bluesy improvisation that shows why he's been guitar teacher and mentor to several generations of the area's jazz, R&B and blues musicians.
Not everything is here. The Blue Wisp Big Band, Latin X-Posure and such fine trad-jazz players as Frank Powers are just a few missing in action. A second volume is planned and should be just as good.
But with this compilation, J Curve Records -- and producer Pat Kelly -- have done an heroic job in creating a state-of-the-union quality recording of the area's jazz scene. It's a scene, and a CD, to be proud of.
