Here’s a bass player leading a band that’s a bit on the undiscovered side-this one should get your attention. Arthur Kell leads a quartet with Brad Shepik/g, Loren Stillman/as and Mark Ferber/dr. The litheness of the instrumentation works quite well here, as alto players always sound better when the mood is mellow. The boppish pieces like “Quarter Sawn” and the title track are spacious sounding, and the strong point here, the ballads, spotlight Stillman’s rich and luxurious tone. “Ijinna” and “Song for the Journey” is as good as an alto is gonna get, while the leader’s melodic treatment of the bass lines keeps the music moving while still melodious. Lovely sounds.
Bju Records