OK, so technically, one of these albums isn’t lead by a sax player, but there are two on the quartet date, so give me a break!
Bassist Jon Hamar leads an unorthodox quartet with drummer Julian MacDonough and a front line of Rich Perry/ts and Todd GelGiudice/as on this free yet flowing collection of originals(minus one). There’s a loose bluesiness to “Jump of Joe” and the lonely and laconic “Idy Wild.” The reed coalesce well together, but like most good friends, they know when they need time off alone, as they go neck and neck on the chuggling “Champagne Sparkle” and go off into various paths on the snapping “Prospect Park West.” Hamar and MacDonough do a yeoman’s job of keeping the music together and going in the right direction. Fresh!
Clarence Johnson III plays tenor and soprano here, and even sings on a couple songs on this fun and funky outing. Soul jazz pops out all over on “Watch Him Work” and “Brian’s Journey” while he gets the suede jacket jumping on a cooking take with B3er Mike Esneault on “Grazin’’In The Grass.” Some mellow madness comes in on the rich “Joy” and some hot trombone jumps into the stew on a funky “Like Father Like Son.” This guy can get a groove to beg for mercy!