Here’s a guy that’s got bebop in his blood. Vibist Mark Sherman teams up with some of the best guys LA has to offer, and creates a cozy yet sizzling dandy of a disc here. Sherman’s cohorts are Bill Cunliffe, who takes a rare journey on the Hammond B3, John Chiodini/g, and Charles Ruggiero, and they all get a chance to stretch out just enough on tunes like “Bags Groove” and “Quasimodo.” Sherman’s got a nice light touch, alternating between soft and hard mallets, and swinging like the criminals for Lincoln’s assassination. Chiodini gets some tasty little solos in, particularly on “Woody N’ You” while Cunliffe gently eases and wheezes through the background until popping out for some soulful work as on “Whisper Not” and “Whisper Not.” If you’ve only been exposed to post-bop jazz, take a plunge with this kind of material, one of the few genres of music that is just inherently happy.
Miles High Records