(Review by Lance)
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Intro and dialogue.
(Telephone rings)
"Miami - 1959"
"Hello?"
"Oh Good, You're still there!"
Her voice was well modulated but somewhat breathless with an accent I couldn't place.
"So what can I do for you?"
"Your ad in the phone book says you specialize in missing persons, are you any good at it?"
"I'd like to think so. So who's missing and how long have they been gone?"
"Me. I mean... I don't know."
Most 'Persons' cases start out pretty simple. This didn't seem to be one of them.
You don't have to wear a trenchcoat or a fedora pulled down over your eyes, or walk down mean streets or drink shots of Bourbon like as though they were soda pops, to enjoy this atmospheric album but I'll bet you're imagining you are as you get deeper and deeper into the music.
Although set in Miami, this is the world of Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane set to music. Music composed by Brent Laidler that captures the era of pulp magazines - the gumshoes, slinky dames, hoods wearing black shirts with white ties, the two-bit rooming houses, the bars, the night clubs and the other archetypal people and places that populated those mean streets.
The musicians capture the mood to perfection - 1950's Blue Note.
Buselli brings Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan to mind. Shiner is Milt Jackson with a warmer sound. Saxman Boyd is a swinger who wails emotively when the scenario demands it. Listen to his baritone on Heavy Memphis Jones. The inspiration may have come from Have You Met Miss Jones? but the portrait is that of a badass dude hitman.
Throughout, Newman's piano slots in so easily as does Pazera's bass whilst the two drummers who split the tracks are also on the case.
Titles: Downtown by Nine; Jamie's Joynt; Sixth Sense; No Matter Where Noir; Southern Gate; Heavy Memphis Jones; Law of Attraction; Not Just Another Waltz; Meet me at the Havana Hilton; Keep me in Mind.
Rarely has a concept album got it so so right but Laidler with his compositions and his playing is on the money.
Lance.
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