Toronto-based tenor saxist Harrison Argatoff leads a double tenor front line quartet with Mike Murley on the other Selmer with drummer Harry Vetro and bassist Steve Wallace keeping everything both together and freely swinging. The result is a mix of California Cool a la the vintage days of Warne Marsh with Lee Konitz as well as the bluesy bop of the halcyon days of Charles Mingus.
Both Argatoff and Murley has warm and breathy vibratos, rolling in like a fog on the bluesy and hip title track, and creating glorious harmonies on the lonely “Dry Oatmeal”. Wallace and Vetro lay back with style on the brushy and suave “Only Hear Say” and get soulful on “Kite of Clay”. Argatoff does a rich aria on “New Peace” and the team is dreamy on the languid “Writer’s Tears” and bops with a swagger on “Dig Diz”. Like a muscle balm, these guys deliver cool heat.