His parents were spot-on for naming this guy Gabriel; he plays the trumpet like an angel from heaven. He fronts a team of Eric Gunnison/p-key, Ken Walker/b, Peter Sommer/sax and Steve Kovolcheck/g that punches like Rocky Marciano on this wide ranging mix of covers and originals. The band comes out of the gates charging on Lee Morgan’s “Somethin’ Cute” which sizzles like bacon in a morning diner, with Mervine’s big fat tone bouncing off the walls along with Kovolcheck’s hip guitar and Sommer’s tenor. The band also gets into the 70s funk farm with Gunnison’s keyboards on “You and I” while Walker lays down a snappy and lithe bass line on Donald Byrd’s “Ghana.” As far as delivery goes, Mervine floats like a cirrus cloud on “Little Dance” and is warm like an autumn sunset on “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” A delicate duet with the guitarist on the closing “You Go To My Head” sums up the feeling this man with a horn delivers. WHEW! Gotta see this guy in LA!
Syncopated Energy Music
www.gabrielmervine.com