Jimmy Masters: When Trees Speak

Bassist Jimmy Masters has put together a well rounded and wide ranging collection of material on this creative album. He teams up with JC Kuhl/ts-ss, Justin Kauflin/ and John Toomey/p, Joe Locke/vibes, Trey Pollard/eg, Mary Lou Osterhous/g-v and Brian Jones/dr for a mix of jazz, blues and folk.

The pace and feel on pieces such as “More Than Two, It’s Five” and “Fair with Me, Fair with You” is relaxed yet pulsating, with Locke’s vibes gently driving the latter, and Kuhl displaying a warm tone on the former. Some thoughtful and spacious piano is demonstrated on “Nightwalk” with Kuhl’s soprano in warm voice, and some bluesy B# mixes with piano on the shuffling “Special Ones.” A bit of American folk chimes in when Osterhous sings and plays acoustic guitar on a charming ballad (“The Storm”) while the closing spiritual “The Water is Wide” mixes thoughtful piano and guitar. All throughout, and particularly on “Alone in the Field”, Masters demonstrates taste and style. A thoughtful collection

Bass Line Records

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