One of the guys artists like Chick Corea, Bob James and Al DiMeola have made their first call drummer, Steve Gadd has also had an impressive career as a leader in his own right. Here, he leads a nifty quintet with Larry Goldings/org, Walt Fowler/tp-fh, Jimmy Johnson/b and Michael Landau/g that gives hints of funky and murky grooves in the vein of Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way period. Gurgling and percolating mixtures of rhythms meld with Goldings’ lava thick keyboards on material like “Ask Me” and Africa.” Fowler’s horn is misty and airy on a ballad such as Keith Jarrett’s “Country” and equally pungent on the funky “Green Foam.” Gadd himself is able to float like a butterfly on “The Mountain” or sting like a bee on the chick-a-booming “Who Knows Blues.” Music made for taking in at a club to soak in the good vibes that float through the air.
BFM Jazz