Back in the 70s, a label called Pablo Records came up with the novel idea of just getting a handful of musicians together, telling them to play whatever they wanted, and let the tapes (back in those days) roll to record the get together. Most of those sessions are timeless wonders, and this release by the incongruous team of Kim Pensyl/fh, Rusty Burge/vibes and Michael Sharfe/b has that same relaxed, swinging and cozy feel.
There are a couple of self composed segues, but most of the material is deliciously tried and true material that allows these three to open up, expand, and then gracefully close back in and contract back into the theme. The tunes, such as Bill Evans’ “Very Early” or “It Never Entered My Mind” don’t go for too long, usually 4-7 minutes tops, so the interplay between the three is the key. On “All The Things You Are,” for example, Pensyl’s horn floats over the theme just as Burge’s mallets veer in and around before side stepping up front, while Sharfe comes in and out like a cameo actor. This type of deference, sort of like “After you, Alphonse,” gives everyone a chance to create a warm and symbiotic atmosphere. Great material here!
Summit Records
www.summitrecords.com