Julian Gerstin plays a plethora of hand percussion instruments as h leads a lithe and light sextet through 11 originals. The rest of the ensemble, Anna Patton/cl, Don Anderson/tp-fh, Eugene Uman/p-key, Wes Brown/b and Ben James/dr create some bouncy bop with Patton sounding klezmerlike on “Dig It Deeper” and the team bopping on the peppy “Kaiman Ka Kode” Festive calls and responses with the horns are featured on ”Mongo’s Lament” while the horns get somber on the march-like “The King Dreams of Flying.” Brown’s bass delivers a lyrical line with traditional percussion and relaxed trumpet on ”Iroko H op” and delivers with James a bluesy back beat for “Polar Bear Meltdown.” Traditional vocals and percussion take you to a local village on Apprendiendo Como Amar” and sleek salsa with chiming piano is present on “Child Left Behind.” Lyrical and lithe.Julian Gerstin Sextet: The One Who Makes You Happy
Julian Gerstin plays a plethora of hand percussion instruments as h leads a lithe and light sextet through 11 originals. The rest of the ensemble, Anna Patton/cl, Don Anderson/tp-fh, Eugene Uman/p-key, Wes Brown/b and Ben James/dr create some bouncy bop with Patton sounding klezmerlike on “Dig It Deeper” and the team bopping on the peppy “Kaiman Ka Kode” Festive calls and responses with the horns are featured on ”Mongo’s Lament” while the horns get somber on the march-like “The King Dreams of Flying.” Brown’s bass delivers a lyrical line with traditional percussion and relaxed trumpet on ”Iroko H op” and delivers with James a bluesy back beat for “Polar Bear Meltdown.” Traditional vocals and percussion take you to a local village on Apprendiendo Como Amar” and sleek salsa with chiming piano is present on “Child Left Behind.” Lyrical and lithe.