Mellow and swinging overall. I liked the version of Herbie Hancock’s ‘The Sorcerer’ and the bouncing James Danderfer number ‘The Same Old You With the Same Old Blues’ most on a first listen.
Recorded in a Vancouver studio over a couple of days in the late spring this year, saxist Danderfer plays a big role on the boogaloo and swing flavoured album as co-producer too.
Star turn guest input is provided by the Hammond organ playing of Brian Charette. If you like Mike LeDonne then you will dig what Charette does here in equally intuitive and characterful fashion.
Other material includes saxist Steve Kaldestad’s ‘Equestrian Interlude’ an earlier small group version of which [above] appeared on 2022 album Live at Frankie’s Jazz Club.
There’s room too for waltzing Kaldestad tune ‘Shimmy!’ that goes back more than a decade and a half to Blow Up [above] on which the tune also figured.
Charette weaves in and out skilfully and does not over shadow proceedings too much. I liked his role on Danderfer samba ‘Oh Brother’ a lot.
Check out a recent, more brightly voiced, and just as appealing, version of the piece [above] that also appeared on the recent If Not Now.
MORE RECENT REVIEWS
Duke’s the word by George: Christian McBride and Ursa Major new album and Ronnie’s shows
Entering the Mothers of Invention icon George Duke’s universe, the “Young Lions Epoch” bass don brings his kick ass band to Ronnie’s
The right kind of mindset
If it seems wise to put your idols jazz or otherwise on a pedestal, what if they go on to disappoint?
Jalen Baker, RePaved, Cellar Music ****
A love letter to Houston – strong chamber jazz arrangements figure on an album that is full of character and warmth
