Bassist Todd Coolman leads a classy trio with Bill Cunliffe/p and Dennis Mackrel/dr on this easy to please release. They mix and match material from various sources, ranging from jazz standards like “Joshua” to The Beatles, and make everything swing. The team bops on “New Rhumba” and are stately as they strut on “Flatbush” and glide on a gentle “Out of the Darkness.” Cunliffe glows on “Prelude To A Kiss” and flows on “We’ll Be Together Again” while Mackrel keeps thing moving crisply on “Three and One” and skates during “Isn’t It A Pity.” Coolman himself does some impressive work on the line of “Joshua” and bops like a hep cat on “ Jimmy Up, Jimmy Down.” The team works like one, with rich conversations driving the music soulfully forward. Excellent!
Sunnyside Records