Trumpeter/band leader John Daversa puts out music that never stops trying. Enthusiastic, swinging and enjoyable over the top, the music here has a hard hitting flexibility of sounds and rhythms that’s hard , not to ignore. He teams up with Robby Marshall/ts, Zane Carney/g, Tommy King/key, Brandon Coleman/key, Jerry Watts/b and Gene Coe/dr for music that can be raucous (“Seven Grand”) or slightly held back (“Moonlight Muse”). One of the winning features of Daversa’s music is that it has a real “live” feel to it. Even the pastoral “Hara Angelina” which features the ethereal Gretchen Parlato makes you envision a club scene, and the jive and bopping “Rhythm Changes” (featuring Bob Mintzer’s bass clarinet)sweats like an R&B singer. Exciting and enthusiastic stuff here.
BFM Jazz Records