You know you’re getting old when a guitarist like Nir Felder puts out an album that refers to the days of the 80s and 90s as “The Golden Age.” Did I miss something?
What Felder does is mix some lyrical tunes such as “Before the Tsars” and “Lights” and “Sketch” with snippets of samples of speeches from disparate sources ranging from Lou Gehrig, Hillary Clinton, Mario Cuomo, Malcom X and Richard Nixon, among others. Your level of enjoyment may be determined by your political leanings, but his energetic but clean licks on “Ernest/Protector” and the chiming chords on “Code” show an attraction to Red and Blue states. The team of Aaron Parks/p, Matt Penman/b and Nate Smith/dr is adroit and elastic, with Parks’ work on the genteel “ Bandits II” a work of charm and grace. Lots of nice bop licks on “Memorial” and optimism is reflected on the attractive “Lovers.” Impressive approach that mixes lyricism of melody with in the pocket drive.
Okeh Records