Better known as the pianist & arranger for vocalist Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood occasionally steps out in front to perform his own material, and for good reason. His solo albums include a fascinating series of duets with bassist Charlie Haden as well as a quartet release with saxist Ernie Watts. This time around at the acoustically pleasing Blue Whale, Hobgood delved into jazz’s classic genre of the hard bop quintet, and brought it not only up to date, but pointed the music into a positive future.
Spotlighting his skills at both arranging and performing, Hobgood displayed his digital width and breath on the ivories, leading the melody of “The Guilded Cage” to the front line with Jonathan Dane/tp and Greg Johnson/ts, with each delivering a fiery solo , while the flexible rhythm team of Dave Robaire/b and Dan Schnelle/dr propelled the theme and directions back and forth like shifting sands in a storm before Hobgood stilled the waters with a closing gentle breeze. Hobgood’s described “slithering and fun” song entitled “Rip Van Winkle” featured an adroit trio intro with some mysterious piano musings, while Robaire and Schnelle created a rivulet of a latin rhythm groove for Dane’s warm trumpet and Johnson’s amber toned tenor finally jump in with and to veer around. “Wakawe (Honor Parting),” a tribute to the community spirit of the Japanese culture’s response to their disastrous 2011 tidal wave, opened with Hobgood’s fingers producing delicate cherry blossoms of notes rustling through Robaire’s thoughtful bass, as the horn section elucidated a fragile front line of melded sonorities. Closing the hour set with an irresistibly deeply grooving “Septitude,” which mixed fresh melodies, hip harmonies and dynamics , Hobgood and company showed that just like grilled cheese sandwiches, surfing, and Sunday School, the hard bop quintet is an American Classic and still be both timeless as well as fresh when in the right hands. That was evidenced on a clear and crisp November night.
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