Drummer Dave Pope teams up with brother Mike on piano and all star bassist John Patitucci for a classy and classic piano trio combo. Dark piano harmonies team with a rich pulse for the modal take of “Once I Loved”while some high hat work snaps to Patitucci’s bass on “I Love You”. Big fisted chords on “Blues In The Pulpit” and elegant work on piano and 
bass make for a rich take of Pat Metheny’s “Sirabhorn” while the leader cracking the whip on the nifty title track. Vintage tones.
Guitarist Doug MacDonald mixes Herb Ellis swing with Jim Hall coolness with his team of Larry Holloway/b, Tim Pleasant/dr and guest Big Black/perc. Rich use of space and tone take up clean takes of “My Shining Hour” with MacDonald sublimely swinging on his own Brazilian “Cat City Samba” and “Bossa Nueva”. Pleasant’s brushes cares an impressionistic “What’s New” and his high hat hums on “The Way You Look Tonight”. A thin paint brush of watercolors.
Chris Dingman makes good use of his vibraphone with Linda May Han Oh on bass and drummer Tim Keiper. The vibes echoe richly with a awe-inspiring echo on the bluesy gospel of “Forgive/Embrace” and the soul funk of “The Opening + Mudita”. Dingman gives a marimba tone as Keiper and Oh give a lilting gait to “Find A Way” while rich spaces are created on the ballad “Steps On The Path” and “Ali”. Creative atmospheres.
Pianist Lynne Arriale gives lyrical originals with a conversant team of bassist Jasper Somsen and drummer EJ Strickland. She gives Somsen some space to solo on the post bop bouncer “Journey” and the soulful “3 Million Steps” while Strickland brushes along to “Lady Liberty” and shimmers on cymbals to Arriale’s melodic “Hope”. Arriale’s fingers tickle the piano to the rustling rhythm on “The Dreamers” after Strickland opens up the intriguing tune. The three create an almost Coltranesque rubato on the traditional “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”. Guest vocalist KJ Denhert gives a passionate and dramatic take on Bob Dylan’s “Chimes Of Freedom” and is gentle and comforting on Paul Simon’s “American Tune”. Nice paths to follow.