Wali Ali: To Be

Guitarist Wali Ali teams with Bob Baldwin/b, Kevin Hill/p and Tony Lewis/dr to bring fresh perspectives to jazz standards and beyond. His love of the Miles Davis post bop feel is felt on his moody interpretation of “Nardis” and an elegiac take of Herbie Hancock’s “Dolphin Dance” while Charles Lloyd’s “Forest Flower” from the same genre allows Hill’s piano to provide rich chords for clever stringwork. A ¾ lilt of Eric Satie’s “Gymnopedie” is a clever gallop, and the team sounds rich and hip on “the standard “I Wish I Knew” whereas the leader floats with sublime success on “I Loves You, Porgy.” Fresh assuages on familiar ground.

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