Joe Policastro (bs); Mikel Avery (dms); Dave Miller (gtr) + Andy Brown/Andy Pratt (gtr).
(Review by Dave Brownlow).
Pops! is a new CD by the Joe Policastro Trio – a guitar - led trio featuring the above musicians. (NOT, incidentally, Mick Avery, former drummer of the Kinks!) The two guest guitarists, Brown and Pratt feature on four of the eleven tracks.
Based in Chicago and resident at the Pops For Champagne nightclub in that city, this is a jazz trio who use pop songs from the ‘60s – ‘90s as their material incorporating compositions by artists such as Prince, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Bacharach/David, The Bee Gees, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Billy Paul and The Cars.
Leader Policastro, who has worked with many jazz greats including Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods, Ira Sullivan, David ‘Fathead’ Newman. Billy Hart and Howard Alden, arranged nine of the eleven tunes. He provides a powerful, steady, foundation for the group. His arco work is beautifully ‘in tune’ when he gets the opportunity to state melodies or improvise solos - that’s not an easy thing to achieve!
Dave Miller on guitar shoulders most of the lead work using a tone reminiscent of a combination of Barney Kessel, Chet Atkins and Hank B. Marvin. He has a style all of his own – melodic, appropriate to the songs and easy to listen to – not flamboyant or outrageous but with plenty of ‘reverb’ on the Amp!
Some of the highlight tracks of the CD are Wives and Lovers, More Than a Woman, Condition of the Heart, Diamonds and Pearls, Take It with Me and Drive.
This is a pleasant album from a jazz trio using more unusual material than the norm, providing worthwhile, very different, performances from the originals.
You can sample tracks at www.joepolicastro.com/groups-trio.htm
Or buy from JeruJazz or Amazon.
Dave Brownlow.
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