Bassist Richard Whiteman mixes up quartet and sextet material with a core team of Reg Schwager/g, Amanda Tosoff/p and Morgan Childs/dr and guest tenor men Pat LaBarbara and Mike Murley on a mix of rich originals.
In the smaller setting, guitarist Schwager and Whiteman do some nice samba work on the festive “Right Here, Right Now, With You” and the sleek “Mangoes” with Tosoff joining the spotlight for a pretty and intimate “Waltz For Zeke”. Schwager is nimble “It Is What It Is-For John Summer” and the whole time gives off joyful sparks on “Dancing with Zeke”. The leader lays down a hip line for Tosoff on “La Belle Epoch and goes hand in hand with her on “Selohssa”. LaBarbera and Murley bop proudly on the palpable swinger “Very Well and Good” and “Re-Entry” with some Basie beats working well on “Pat and Mike”. Mainstream joys.