Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BEATitude , from David Bixler and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with A Power Deferred , alto sax player/ composer, David Bixler sets up a solid melody, caressed by the excellent accent work of Jon Cowherd on piano and Ike Sturm on bass and Rogerio Boccato on percussion. With a lightly salted Latin rhythm and Bixler trades with Cowherd who's piano lines flow nicely and Sturm's bass solo is firm and inciteful. Strong opener. Hide Seek Find has a bit of Bossa Nova in it's blood with Cowherd and Boccato creating the basis for the rhythm and Sturm really working the bass. Bixler, free to play the melodic solo lead. Again, Sturm gets the floor and his freedom to enhance the track is really meaningful. Cowherd takes a nice stroll on piano before joining back to a uniform front giving the track real texture.  Wrapping the release is Lost Hours? No , with it's solemn, alto sax drifting a hint of melody over the...