From Sammy Cahn’s lyrics to Jimmy Van Heusen’s classic 1950s ‘All The Way’ melody. Stunning versions include (Little) Jimmy Scott’s on the album of the same name issued in 1992. The Smack Dab treatment is closer to Lee Morgan’s (see today’s playlist for a listening link)
If you let me love you
It’s for sure I’m gonna love you
In a nutshell Pulse is a meat and potatoes hard bop studio album recorded in 2023 with drummer Joan Casares in the Art Blakey (Abdullah Ibn Buhaina – hence Bu) mould.
Highlights beyond pianist David Kikoski‘s always rewarding contributions include the sax playing from Lluc Casares on ‘All the Way.’
Barcelona’s Smack Dab navigate a ”kind of Bu” sound
The originals are fine from the Barcelona band. But really it’s the interpretations of the standards that steal the show. A quintet around since 2015 Smack Dab have played local clubs like Jamboree Jazz Club and Nova Jazz Cava. In the States they worked with Vincent Herring.
If like me you are into great UK trumpeters like the Kenny Dorham influenced wizard of the valleys Andy Davies you’ll also appreciate the version here of Dorham’s mid-1950s era Afro Cuban (Blue Note) tune ‘KD’s Motion.’
Recent reviews
- Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble, Distant Plains: The Planets Revisited, Caliban Sounds/One Little Independent ***1/2
- Alex Ho and Donovan Haffner, Serendipity, No label ***1/2
- Billy Childs, Triumvirate, Mack Avenue ****
- Miho Hazama and the Danish Radio Big Band, Frames, Edition **** recommended
- Eivind Aarset, Strange Hands, Jazzland ***1/2
