The Honolulu Jazz Quartet: Straight Ahead

Celebrating 20 years together the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, consisting of John Kolivas/b, Tim Tsukiyama/sax, Dan Del Negro/p and Noel Okimoto/dr put together a mix of originals and jazz/boomer standards in fresh frameworks. Tsuiyama’s soprano on the opening “Scarborough Fair” teams with the rhythm section’s pulse to create a kind of Coltrane vibe circa “My Favorite Things” , while his tenor boogaloos on “Right Back With the Snack”. Okimoto gives an ooga-chacka R&B feel to “Boppin’ In Baltimore” and Kolivas lays out a nice lead line for “Carl’s Way Home” and is coolly moody for “Economic Blues”. Most clever is a crisp and bopping take of The Beach Boys’ “In My Room” and a bel canto tenor sax with Del Negro on “Bess, You Is My Woman”. Fresh coats of musical paint.

www.honolulujazzquartet.com

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