Here’s a band I’ve never heard before, but I gotta tell you, they deliver a style of music rarely done these days. It used to be called “contemporary adult instrumental” which meant “jazz that cooks but doesn’t go out into the atmosphere. But, just like in politics, it’s hard to keep a center, so jazz has either gone to bland smoothness or wild cacophony. But, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this one fits just right. You get two releases here, ones a studio session and the others a cd/dvd of them in front of a crowd. Both are strong releases and easily recommended.
The band consists of Russ Miller/dr, Rick Krive/key-voc and Jerry Watts/b, but the studio session includes guest appearances galore, such as Eric Marienthal on”Renata Maria,” John Daversa on trumpet, some tenor and flute work by George Shelby, percussion here and there by L uis Cone and even a Brazilian Choir on “Only a Dream in Rio” so it’s not exactly a Spartan affair. The material is mostly upbeat, melodic and optimistic, with some hip vocals delivered on “Fool the Hill.” Miller gently nudges the band to sizzling perfection on the folksy “Renata Maria” and the funky and fusiony “Skin Tight” which has him wrestling with Watts’ snappy bass, while the assertive “Buy-Own?” makes the ping pong match go on a three way competition. Some lovely brush work is deliciously delivered along with Krive’s sensitive piano musings on ”My One and Only Love” rounding out a strong release.
In concertKrive delivers hep vocals on the sizzling hard bopper “Love Being Here With You” and also shows his inner Michael Franks with a romantic yet funky “Meu Bem Querer.” Krive also carries the torch on his piano during a lovely feature, and shows his bop chops as he plays off Miller’s ride cymbal on”RSVP.” Exciting brush work and stick displays are impressive during a pair of “Rhythmic Conversations.” The gig here is both exciting and accessible. What more do you want?
RMI Music Productions Inc