Soprano saxist and composer Rob Derke leads a free flowing quartet with Aruan Ortiz/p, Carlo De Rosa/b and Eric McPherson through some loose yet cogent post modern material. He’s got a warm and rich carmel-sounding horn, and go either angular with it, as on the bluesy and swinging “Davey’s Dream” or bear down with some agitation as on the assertive and jabbing “Dispossession.” The rhythm team has some marvelous interplay on the Coltranish “Pasillo Azul” while De Rosa and McPherson charge forward on the daring “Taksim.” Sweet sounds glisten on the delicate “G’s Waltz” and Herbie Hancock’s “Still Time” has the team using spaces and time to a wondrous effect. Impressive interplay by team that is executes as well as the double play team of Whitaker and Trammel for the Tigers way back when.
Zoho Records