Courageous Hearts

TOWNER GALAHER: Courageous Hearts
self-released, 2009

HARD BOP – Slamming original material in a classic vein from drummer Galaher, joined by a pick-up band of ace veteran players. The recording quality isn’t very sharp – it’s a bit muddy and poorly balanced, in fact – but the energy of the band largely makes up for that.

Brian Lynch - trumpet
Craig Handy - tenor sax
Fred Wesley - trombone
George Colligan - piano
Charles Fambrough - bass
Towner Galaher - drums
Gabriel Machado, Ze Mauricio - percussion

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9

1. 5:10 – tough midtempo strut with congas; flaring trumpet & sax solos
2. 4:58 – urban postbop: hard riffs; well greased trombone, sax & piano
3. 4:12 – uptempo samba-bop, hot percussion break, horn solos go to town
4. 4:49 – ponderous, slower tempo: piano sparkles, sax adds a bit of fire
5. 3:45 – bebop standard, merry bashing with a latinized rhythmic touch
6. 4:47 – unusual stroll, oblique and blaring, strong trumpet & sax breaks
7. 6:44 – slow and bluesy: trombone takes charge, piano adds gospel soul
8. 3:37 – heavy midtempo stride, solid percussion groove and wailing sax
9. 7:48 – rolling Latin-jazz standard, solos ride the steady groove

[ Fo ] 07/18/09