Michael Rodriguez: Pathways

Sounds like those of a classic Blue Note session are delivered by leader Michael Rodriguez on trumpet or flugelhorn with a hard bopping team of John Ellis/ts, Gary Versace/p, Joe Martin/b and Obed Calvaire/dr on a mix of originals and covers. The team does a clever read of Bill Frisell’s elliptical ballad “Throughout” with Rodriguez and Versace in a particularly warm frame of mind, while Rodriguez’s solo intro on Rodgers and Hart’s “Spring Is Here”  leads to a bold climax. The team gives some ESP-ish glistenings on the elegiac “In Due Time” while the modal “Solid Ground” is brimming with muscle flexing.  Martin and Versace are sleek for “Just In Case” and Calvaire’s sticks keep busy for Rodriguez’s bopping horn and Ellis thick tenor on “Pathways”. Hard bop heaven.

 

www.rodbrosmusic.com

Leave a Reply