Trumpeter David Weiss has carved out a career playing with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, James Spaulding as well as currently teamed with the hard bop vets The Cookers. This album has that classic late period Blue Note feel, with Weiss leading a muscular group of Myron Walden/as, Nicole Glover/ts, David Bryant/p, Eric Wheeler/b and EJ Strickland/dr through an exciting mix of originals and covers.
SA salute to The Hub is served up on a take of “Rebop” the drives like a runaway train, as Glover and Walden ride the engine while feeding coal to the heat of Strickland and Wheeler. Likewise Slide Hampton’s “One For Bu” has the leader in a modal messenger mood, clear and strong around the tricky horn framework. The reeds are reflective around Weiss on the sublime tribute to Wayne Shorter on “With Gratitude (For Wayne)” , and Bryant’s ivories dance over the graceful cadence of Wheeler and Strickland on the tribute to George Cables during “Resilience (For George)”. It’s albums like these, and artists like Weiss, that remind you why you got into jazz in the first place. Encore!