Combinations of three…
Pianist Spike Wilner teams up with bassist Tyler Mitchell and drummer Anthony P inciotti for some rich trio conversations of originals and standards. His own tunes have a dash of Monk in them, with Mitchell getting some space in the explorative title tune and the team bopping well on “Trick Baby”. Wilner does some Spherical soloing on his read of “Blue Gardenia” while the Pinciotti drives hard around Mitchell’s solo on “Stella By Starlight”. Some bowed bass adds class to WIlner’s “Adagio” and the leader gives a somber solo on his “Prayer For Peace” aria. Clever combinations.
Gotta love the Hammond trio of guitar (Eddie Roberts), drums (Adam Deitch) and the B3 having Robert Walter at the helm. There’s a bit of help with Nick Gerlach on tenor for a deep boogaloo on “Hot Honey” and the wacka wooka’d “Chum City”, as well as some deep bass grooving added by Josh Fairman on the soul jam of “Red Sunset”. Other than that, you get a band that sounds like they were weaned by Booker T. and the MGs on the funky soul grit of “Judy”, Sleep Depraved” and “Corner Pocket”. Roberts adds some Hendrixy effects to “Happy Hour” but otherwise put on your Afro Sheen!