Drummer Bob Holz keeps the feel and sound organic with a pair of bands swinging in New York’s Funk’n Waffles and Los Angeles’ Groove Gallery. He mixes up jazz standards with some originals, keeping the songs between 5-7 minutes, with no one overstaying their welcome in the front line, emphasizing style and soul.
Holz’s NY band includes Ralphe Armstrong/b-voc, Chet Catallo/g, John Heard/perc and Tom Witkowsky/key. Ronnie Leigh adds some blue eyed soul vocals aournd Holz’s nifty drum solo and hefty brush work on a hip read of “All Blues” while scatting around Armstrong’s bass and Witkowsky’s salsa’d keys on “A Night In Tunisia”. Catallo goes Wes and intertwines well with Armstrong over Holz’s deft cymbals on a “Little Sunflower” that percolates to perfection, while Armstrong preaches it and gives a bass workshop around Catallo’s moaning strings on “Blue Mashed Potatoes”.
The LA outfit features Billy Steinway/key, Mike Miller/g, Joe De Leon Jr, Ric Fierabracci/b and Brandon Fields sitting in with his alto sax on a relaxed blues of “Jammin’ Man” that sounds like the second set at the Baked Potato in its casual coolness. Likewise, “Riptide” is a soul jazzer that could be out of the Weather Report songbook with its textured keys, sizzling pulse and creative directions. All that’s missing here is a two drink minimum and background chatter. WHEW!