Bennett Paster (keys/organ); Jeff Hanley (bass); Tony Mason (drums) + Al Street (guitar on 6 tks); Kenny Brooks (tenor sax on 5 tks); Samuel Torres, Todd Isler (perc. on 4 tks).
(Review by Lance).
Funky, groove-based, blues-tinged music that brings Ramsey Lewis to mind or, when guitar and tenor augment the trio, early Herbie when he was selling watermelons. It has the floating groove that personified much of 1960's Blue Note although Paster's lyrical insertions smooth the edges - even more so on the trio plus percussion tracks notwithstanding some Monkish chords that make me imagine the outcome if it had been Thelonious and not Andre Previn on the legendary Morecambe and Wise Show!
Paster composed all ten tunes, even Indian Summer - not to be confused with the tune of the same name that Victor Herbert composed 100 years ago, nor the different Indian Summers that the Stereophonics, the Manic Street Preachers and a Frenchman called Joe Dassin also came up with. There may be more. When in doubt, call your masterpiece Indian Summer. In fairness though, it must be said that Paster's tune is as good as, if not better than, any of the others.
Gritty Greens has Paster at the B3 stretching out over an infectious rhythm, tenor walking the bar and Street bringing Grant Green to mind. Murfreesboro Waltz is pure country as befits a song dedicated to a city in Tennessee even though that state already has its own waltz. All that's missing are some words of the 'my baby done gone and done me wrong' variety.
Salamander has a jazz-rock feel to it - the blurb suggests Brecker Brothers and that's pretty close - the Hammond adding a soulful feel, and the ever-changing tempos over the percussionists' groundwork keep it interesting.
Buxom Biali (no explanation) is an out and out dancer, in fact, I was bouncing up and down as I listened and typed - remember Tequila? same groove.
Not a disc to ponder thoughtfully over but if you want to shake your booty this is for you. If they ever visit the UK - maybe Hoochie Coochie?
Lance
Blues For Youse; (Givin' the People) What We Want; Indian Summer; Belgrade Booty Call; Gratitude; Gritty Greens; The Murfreesboro Waltz; A Beastly Beauty; Salamander; Buxom Biali.
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