Since the passing of Kevin Mahogany, jazz has been lacking in a leading male bass voice. Vocalist Hollaway may just be the right candidate, with a tone a bit heavier than Mahogany’s, but lighter than a Prysock or an Eckstine. He’s supported by the empathetic Benito Gonzalez/p-key, Will Slater/b, Josh Green/dr, Peter Mongaya/g, Glenn Douglas/key and Cedric Givens/perc, and he sticks to interpreting standards on this subtoned delight.
Supported by a strong backbeat, Hollaway feels both relaxed and confident on pieces like “Playing Your Game” and is cozy on the couch for “Feel Like Makin’ Love”. He’s mellow in the lower register with Gonazalez for a gorgeous “Pure Imagination” as swings easy with Green’s cymbal on “Here I Stand”. Strong and reflective on a flickering “In The Wee Small Hours”, he out Johnny Hartman’s Hartman on a gorgeous piano/voice duet intro to “Lush Life” that gives the classic read a run for it’s money. Musical magma.