One major advantage of being a bass player who leads a session is that you get much freedom in what you want the songs to sound like. For instance, how many sax leaders are only going to feature a piano trio, or pianists lead a guitar with strings? Yet, Wolfe has that right and takes advantage of it on this varied and very good session.
The core team of Wolfe with Orrin Evans/p and Donald Edwards/dr mixes and matches with the likes of Russell Malone and strings on the wondrous “ Angela” as well an extroverted and brassy Wynton Marsalis/tp and JD Allen on the bluesy bopper “The Good Doctor.” Straight trio work as on “Baby Tiger” features Evans’ rich touch, while “So Lovely” blends the mellower Marsalis with strings. Allen’s rich tone glows on “ Two-Beat Numba” while Marcus strickland’s soprano floats through the strings on “From Here I See.” All throughout, Wolfe directs traffic takes sublte solos, and is as deft as a Chinese ping pong master during the interplay sections, with the angular and elliptical “12 More” showing his ability on Class V rapids. Impressive music here.
Max Jazz Records