Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluish Tide , from the Kristen R. Bromley Quintet , and it's cool and versatile. Opening with swinging, Pillar of Fire , band leader and guitarist, Kristen Bromley shows her chops with fluid lead runs and cool rhythm lead, joined by Ray Smith who lays down a solid solo of his own on sax, Steve Erickson who really does a nice job Matt Larson on bass and Jay Lawrence on drums. Tandem lead guitar and sax and a cool off time rhythm really gives Faith Preceded My Miracle a real leg up making it a firm platform for potent soloing from Bromley, Erickson and Smith. Title track, Bluish Tide is a soft swinger with dual sax/guitar melodic lead. Opening into a bop solo stage, set by Larson and Lawrence, Bromley sets up some of her tastiest lead work on the release. Smith lays in a nice sax solo and Erickson's piano work really grooves.  Bromley's rich chord work on the intro of Latin influenced, Paint Me a Picture My Love...