Reviewed: 2018-02-04
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Jeff Hamilton has assembled one of the most meticulous and exciting small ensemble
of present day jazz. With the virtuosic pianist Tamir Hendelman and the redoubtable bassist
Christoph Luty working in swinging tandem alongside him, Hamilton-one of the most acclaimed
drummers of the past five decades-reasserts his role as an invaluable bandleader. No dull tracks.
If You Like: Max Roach, Oscar Peterson, Scott Lafaro
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Sybille’s Day (4:36) – drums start> uptempo jam> piano solo> jam> quick stop
2/ Poinciana (6:10) – drums start> uptempo jam with bass up front> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo
jam> quick fade
*3/ Hammer Tones (3:22) – piano starts> uptempo jam> innovative drum solo> swinging uptempo jam>
Crescendo end
4/ I Have Dreamed (5:33) – bowed bass starts> slow jam piano solo> slow jam> bowed bass solo>
slow fade
*5/ In Walked Bud (6:33) – drums start> midtempo jam> swings uptempo & swinging> bass solo>
Drum solo> quick stop
6/ Gina’s Groove (4:35) – drums start> uptempo jam> sizzling piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*7/ Brush This (4:34) – piano starts> midtempo bounce> drum solo> piano solo> midtempo bounce>
quick stop
*8/ Bennissimo (4:37) – piano/drums start> fast tempo jam> lightning fast piano solo> drum solo>
fast jam> crescendo end
*9/ Gary, Indiana (5:50) – uptempo jam with Latin vibe> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
10/ Hoosier Friend (6:56) – brushes start> midtempo jam> bass solo> piano solo> bass & brushes duet> midtempo jam> quick stop