Jon De Lucia plays various reeds and woodwinds as he leads a light bottomed team of Greg Ruggiero/eg, Chris Tordini/b and Tommy Crane/dr through a collection of fragrant Mediterranean moods. The sounds range from his alto going moody and liturgical on “Opening” to post bop impressionism with his clarinet and bass clarinet on “Stirring Curds” and ”Caterina.” On clarinet, there is Melancholia on “Sinus Suite A” while the team gets festive on “Seven Ate Three For You.” Ruggiero’s guitar is pastoral with De Lucia’s alto on “St. Brendan’s Isle” while they ruminate together on ”Blockhouse #1” and they create a cheerful lilt on “Snake Creeps down.” The rhythm team does a nimble dance on ”Festa” while they trudge through the mud on “KJ”. Through every track, however, there is an Iberian sense of warmth and early morning sunshine, just ready for a cheerful walk through a street. Rich ideas from the old world in a post bop vein.
Fresh Sound New Talent