Bassist/composer Gregg August evenly divides his material between both a quartet and a sextet on this impressive release of post-bop jazz. All of the songs have a sophistication to their melodies, harmonies and structure, and it’s a coin flip which one to prefer The foursome with Luis Perdomo/p, Sam Newsome/ss and EJ Strickland form a formidable set of hard bopping on “Affirmation “ and “For Calle Picota” both which include some impressive piano musings by Perdomo. The sextet of John Biley/tp, Yosvany Terry/as, JD Allen/ts, Perdomo/p an dRudy Royston/dr also display some splashy piano chords, as well as some kinetic rhythm work on “Relative Obscurity” and some gracious brass work by Biley on ”For Miles.” August’s bass work is precise, clean and assertive, as he emphasizes all throughout, but particularly on the intricate “For Max” and cascading “A Ballad For MV.” Impressive from the get go.
Iacuessa Records
www.greggaugust.com