As a jazz journalist every once in while you stumble upon a nice surprise, a young musician that let's you know that jazz is alive and well. Rochester born, now living in New York City, trumpet player Mike Cottone is one of this year pleasant surprises.

With a Masters degree at Julliard School, Cottone is a musician with a clean expressive tone and a style that is savvy, cool and refreshing, yet well connected to the jazz tradition. Cottone is also an outstanding composer as can be appreciated on "Just Remember", "Old Blue", "Gyroscope", "Sloppin" and "I'm sure". Ingenious compositions that have elements of bebop, cool jazz, hardbop and smooth jazz.

Just Remember close with excellent interpretations of the swinging Freddie Hubbard classic "Dear John" and the Hoagy Carmichael ballad"Stardust".

Musicians: Mike Cottone - trumpet, flugelhorn, Jeremy Viner - tenor saxophone, Kris Bowers - piano, Paul Sikivie - bass, Jared Schonig - drums, Ulysses Owens Jr. - drums (2,3,6,7)

Tracks: Just Remember, Selah, Old Blue, Slow Down, Gyroscope, Sloppin, I'm Sure, When Sunny gets Blue, Dear John, Stardust