Ah, the simple joys of accessible jazz!
Pianist Phil Madeira is in a vintage bop mood with a collection of soulful originals on this album with a team of Aaron Smith/dr, James Hollihan/g, Roland Barber/tp-tb, Chris Donohue/b and Rahsaan Barber/sax. The band digs a deep groove for Barber’s tenor on “In Walked Willis” and the boogalooing “Cut It Out” with Hollihan getting down to business. Smith’s cymbal rides well with Madeira on the hip “Sirkka’s Dream” and percolates under the horns on the sizzling “Coming Home.” Things get greasy on “Last Call at Bovies” and the band gaits into a nice stride for “Teamwork Salad.” No nonsense fun.
Bennett Paster plays various keyboards with a funky little team of Jeff Hanley /b, Tony Mason/dr, Al Street/g, Kenny Brooks/ts, Samuel Torres/cong-perc and Todd Isler/perc. The color is blue on many of these pieces, with the band swaying on the 6/8 gospel’d “Blues For Yous.” There’s a lot of funk to shake to, as Hanley lays down a nasty bass line for the AWB-ish “Salamander” with Street and Paster’s organ getting swampy on “Belgrade Booty Call” and “Gritty Greens.” Brooks’ tenor sax is thick and muscular as on the groover “Buxom Biali” and the rhythm section goes Latin Lover on “Indian Summer.” Bring your dancing shoes to this one.