Three is not a crowd..
Guitarist Daniel Delorenzo brings a variety of sounds and styles together with his team of Gaston Reggio/dr and Robbie Link/b. He gets into a Django gypsy swing feel with guest Ben Lassiter on the festive “Flora” while giving some snappy Chet Atkins lines on the bopping “Conniption Fit”. He rocks a bit when plugged in on “Dobbie Donnakis”, gets bluesy on the thick “Hugh” and slows down the mood, on the noirish “Small Time”. Most pretty is when he goes acoustic for the Bach-ish “Prelude” and takes a journey to Andalusia on the fragrant “Data Mining Operation”. Strings of many colors.
Pianist Lenny Marcus displays a wide range on his pianistic palate as he gives tribute to his inspirations with drummer Denver Nuckols and bassist Zachery McDonald on this recent release. His left hand is able to bop like Bud Powell on the snappy “Twice The Spice” while giving modal moments to his digits on “Song For McCoy”. Clever time signatures are in store with hints of “Rondo” for “Twelve For Brubeck” with Satie-esque reflections for “When A Door Opens”. He gives some bluesy Blue Notes for “ Tune For Herbie” while McDonald plugs in for a happy “Guaraldi’s Dilemma” . This is a fun one!
Pianist Steve Boudreau takes his teammates Adrian Vedady/b and Jim Doxas/dr through a deft collection of originals and a couple covers. Boudreau’s touch is post bop glassy, mixing impressionism and Satie on “Hear Wisdom” while giving some graceful ballet work on “Descending Blues”. Vedady supplies a warm mood on the ballad “Words of Hope” and giving a funky tango feel to the oblique “For Staff Only” and teaming up with Doxas’ snappy sticks on “Isobel”. The team does wonders with Wayne Shorter’s “Go”, mixing harrowing harmonies with rippling pulses while getting most assertive when they rumble on “Rolling Oil”. Creative conversations.