I first met Simon Osuna in the hotel lobby where we were both staying during the Malta Jazz Festival. I met him again after he came off stage from performing with the Daniel Sant Trio (see day six report Malta Jazz Festival 2026) where he gifted me a copy of his recently released debut CD. These are my thoughts on what I subsequently heard.
The album begins with the self-penned title track Too Soon, Too Late and features all five members of the quintet. Sax and guitar lay down the melody while the rhythm section drive the number with engaging bass and drum lines. Grant Stewart plays a strong solo sax equally matched, when the time comes, by Joan Fort on guitar. There is much to admire on this opening number in terms of composition, tight playing, and great rhythm. A bass playing band leader paying respects to one the all time great bass players, Ray Brown, comes in the shape of Sam Jones’ In Walked Ray. This is a terrific tune that allows Simon Osuna to show off his ability on this brisk tempo number backed by excellent piano from Perazzo and Bowman’s driving groove.
Another tune from Osuna, Skipper’s Blues, is an engaging number featuring the full quintet. This is further proof, if proof were needed, of just how well this unit gel. This is great straight-ahead jazz written by a young jazz musician who understands the music’s history but is not daunted by the weight of that history. According to the excellent liner notes by David Wong, In Undertone is based on the chord structure of Three and One by Thad Jones. This is played in the classic piano led trio style and it sounds sublime. Perazzo leads the line with real style but is equally matched by Osuna and Bowman when they step forward and Perazzo falls back to the role of accompanist.
The Lamp is Low sets off at a cracking pace but everything sounds under complete control, fluid, exciting, and over far too soon. ‘Tis Autumn, by means of contrast, is the only ballad on the album and, for me, the album’s outstanding track. It opens with the most wonderful bass solo from Osuna, who sets up the melody with beautiful phrasing, before piano and drums play suitably sensitive accompanying lines: an absolute delight from start to finish. And talking of finishing, Too Soon, Too Late, closes out with a tune inspired by the opera Madam Butterfly. Poor Butterfly is yet another fine example of excellent trio playing from within this quintet. This time the trio is led by saxophonist Grant Stewart with just the right support from Osuna and Bowman.
Fresh Sounds Records really have hit on something quite special with this release. Simon Osuna proves himself to be a very accomplished bass player and band leader. He is also fortunate to have excellent musicians supporting him on this album. This is a highly accomplished debut album release and a very good mix of original and cover material. I hope to hear much more from Simon Osuna in the coming years because I strongly admire his ability on the bass but also his skill with the compositional pen!
Tracklist & (composers): 01 – Too Soon, Too Late (Simon Osuna); 02 – In Walked Ray (Sam Jones); 03 – Skipper’s Blues (Simon Osuna); 04 – In Undertone (Simon Osuna); 05 – The Lamp is Low (De Rose-Parish); 06 – ‘Tis Autumn (Henry Nemo); 07. Poor Butterfly (Hubbell-Golden).
Musicians: Simon Osuna (bass), Grant Stewart (tenor sax tracks 1, 3, 5, & 7), Joan Fort (guitar tracks 1 & 3), Tommaso Perazzo (piano, all except track 7), Willie Bowman (drums).
SimplyJazzTalk 