One of the most respected and versatile bassists around, Tom Kennedy goes to his iphone to call his bosses and teammates from various sessions and gigs to deliver a satisfying and rich session. He brings together fellow sidemen and employers ranging from Mike Stern/g, Lee Ritenour/g, Bill Evans/ts, Dave Weckl/dr, Bob Franceschini/ts, Charles Blenzig/p and Randy Brecker for exciting modern sounds.
Ritneour’s own “ Just Listen” features the composer and his son Wes on drums on a warm ballad, while Mikes Stern’s darker town has Richie Morales’ drums shuffling along with Kennedy’s hip electric gass on “Gaslight Square Blues.” Kennedy shows he knows how to solo, but he always makes it work in the context of the composition, never taking over for its own sake as on the grooving “I’ll Remember Y ou” and the nicely pulsed backbeat of “New July” with guitarist Chuck Loeb sitting in sensationally. On acoustic bass, Kennedy digs deep into a rivulet as Bob Franceschini/ts and Nick Marcione/tp bear down on an “Impressions” like title track while Brecker is warm on the pulsating “I’ll See You.” Great bass players are like great umpires; you don’t notice them unless something goes wrong, but then realize how smoothly the game went. Kennedy’s one of the best, winning you over as a great team player who happens to lead sessions once in awhile to everyone’s satisfaction.