Music with no muss nor fuss…
Leader Andy Ballantyne plays tenor sax, alto sax and a dash of clarinet on his Blue Note inspired outing teamed with Rob Piltch/g, Adrean Farrugia/p, Neil Swainson/b and Terry Clarke/dr. His tenor gives a nod to John Coltrane on the modal “Mr. PL” and is bold like vintage Dexter Gordon on the big toned “ Gordian Knot.” Piltch joins with the leader’s alto for a gospel groove on “Round Shot” and the two give some hip lines when Ballantyne blows on the licorice stick on “All Stops To Oshawa.” Swainson and Farrugia do some wonders on “Till The Clouds Roll By” and Clarke brushes up for Ballantyne’s swagger on the muscular “Keep It Stupid.” Vintage modes.
Swinging guitarist Doug MacDonald has built a reputation of putting together jam session-styled recording sessions, this latest one taking place at the Hanger 18 at the Marriott LAX Hotel in Los Angeles. The July 2019 gig has MacDonald with the swinging team of Charlie Shoemake/vib, Joe Bagg/p, Kim Richmond/as-fl, Ron Stout/tp, Ira Nepus/tb, Ricky Woodard/ts and switching between Roy McCurdy-Kendall Kay/dr and Harvey Newmark-John B Williams/b for the marathon session. The two discs include a gorgeous solo outing by the leader on the lyrical “I Thought About You” while he sizzles with Shoamke on “Dreamsville.” Bagg and Nepus bop along on “Pennies From Heaven” and Richmond’s flute floats on “San Fernando Blvd” and “Someone To Light Up My Life.” Newmark does some nice work weaving around MacDonald on “Body and Soul” and McCurdy is at his crispest for the cooking “ Tune Up.” Master chefs cooking.