Here’s a guy that’s a throwback to the days when trumpeters not only had chops, but could sing, jive and just keep the joint jumping. Benny Benack mixes originals and clever covers on this fun filled album with Chad Lefkowitz-Brown/ts, Emmet Cohen/p-key, Kyle Poole/dr, Michael Stephenson/ts-voc, Peter Bernstein/g, Ruben Fox/ts, Russell Hall/b and guest Bria Skonberg/tp-voc.
He’s definitely got chops, but comes off like guys like Louis Prima or WIngy Manone, swinging easy on “Third Time’s The Charm” , hip as all get out with Bernstein on “Scootin’” and soulful and the keys and Stephenson on ”Roylike”. Hall’s bass introduces a hoot of a read of the rock classic “American Woman” that sneaks up on you like a pickpocket, and Benack gets in stride with Cohen on a fun romp of “Gary, Indiana”. And speaking of cozy, Bria Skonberg coos along for a duet of “In A Mellow Tone’. When’s this guy coming to LA?