Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Touch and Go , from The Jim Self & John Chiodini Quintet and it's a cool set with dominant melodic lead on Fluba (a tuba sized flugelhorn). Opening with Touch and Go , Jim Self on Fluba and Ron Stout on trumpet, set the melody with John Chiodini on guitar, Ken Wild on bass and Kendall Kay on drums. The bottom is aggressive and tight giving Self a solid floor to show what a Fluba can do. Chiodini plays warm chords and gentle phrases leading to fluid soloing by Stout on trumpet and firm finger work by Wild. Solid opener.  Benny Carter's Only Trust Your Heart features a particularly nice trio set by Self, Chiodini and Stout. Chiodini penned, Amber, is one of my favorites on the release with a cool bop feel a particularly nice interlude by Self and Stout and some of the nicest guitar work by Chiodini on the release. Triangles is a cool track in 3/4 time. Stout and Self weave seamlessly on Fluba and trumpet crea...