Here’s an impressive release by keyboardist Bruce Torff with his muscular team of Joel Frahm/ts-ss, Pete McCann/g and Ben Wittman/dr. Unfortunately, the session will also be known as the last recording for the trumpeter Lew Soloff, who sadly departed in January, but leaves an impressive legacy on two tracks here. His tone is lovely on “Early Sunday” and makes a rich front line with “This I Promise You” with Frahm’s tenor as they both get a chance to deliver arias. Torff’s “Enceladus” gallops with the rhythm as both he and Frahm contribute rhythmic explorations, while McCan’s tuiar on”Down the Line” is lithe and warm. Frahm’s soprano sears through “Last Dispatch from the Road to Hell” and gets the spotlight on his volcanic tenor on “Wave Of Silence.” All of the tunes by Torff are multi-textured with interesting harmonies and side bars. Impressive post bop.
Summit Records