The most encouraging news about this release by vibist Joe Locke and his team of Ryan Cohan/p, Jaimeo Brown/dr and David Finck/b is that it promises that this collection of blues and ballads is the first volume. If it’s even 75% as good as this one, it’s worth waiting for, as this one hearkens back to the days of Pablo records (back in the 70s) when a team of artists got together for a melding of musical minds. No fluff, no attitude, no frills. Just keep it simple with a backbeat on a hip take of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” or a bluesy reading of the standard “Makin’ Whoopee.” A gentle reading of Frank Foster’s “Simone” glistens like a freshly mowed lawn, while Bobby Troup’s “The Meaning of the Blues” sounds like a full moon penetrating linen drapes. An ebullient “Dedicated to You” demonstrates the mastery of these gents by showing that less is more, a true sign of confidence and maturity. For children with an adult accompaniment and above.
Motema Music