Fun, quick and catchy melodies are supplied by the team of Matt Parker/ts-ss-voc, Richard X Bennett/p-mel-vib, Adam Armstrong/b and Julian Edmond/dr on an album that sounds like part Tin Pan Alley and Improv night.
On tenor, Parker is upbeat with Bennett’s piano on “Style V Substance” and bopping on the wide stride of “Everyman Parker”. A warm Getzy sound floats on “Semi Vintage” and the schmaltz is flying on the bel canto “ Countertransference”. A hectic soprano sax almost crashes on “ Bus 61” and veers through the traffic on “No Weed No Sleep”. Bennett has Bud Powell in his bones on the pretty “Sagebrush” and a lyrical “Joy Comes With The Morning”. Let’s find Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney and go on the road!