I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Influences, by Jared Hall and it's really solid. Opening with Song For Shaw, influenced by the sounds of Woody Shaw is really hot with a percussive attack by Jared Hall on trumpet paired with John Bishop on drums. Rolling into a terrific groove framed by Michael Glynn on bass and Tal Cohen on piano, Hall really sets the pace with crisp, open-bell attack, Cohen taking his lead plays with exceptional vibrancy, and Bishop adds excellent accent. Glynn gets a turn and lays down a a strong bass solo followed by the vibrant drumming by Bishop. Powerful opener. Quiet ballad, Dear Roy, a tribute to Roy Hargrove, has a rich melody with Hall leading the way. Cohen picks up on piano with an introspective feel, then back to Hall who carries the melody to the end with lush support of Cohen, Glynn and Bishop. Very nice. Let The Children Dance has a real nice Latin under beat structured by Glynn and Bishop. Hall blows a tight melody on trumpet with counter by Cohen on piano. His ensuing solo is flowing and inciteful adding great width to this track. Bishop gets the opportunity to dig in on this one and really produces a rigorous solo of his own. Gigi Gryce's up tempo, Minority, has an aggressively moving bottom giving Hall a solid platform to to shape the melody. Cohen again contributes a vibrant piano solo rolling back to Hall with an adventurous trumpet expansion before shifting back to it's classic melody. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Dream Steps, a more contemporary track with a more straight forward melodic approach. Hall sets the melody firmly over a light Latin rhythm anchored by Bishop and guided by Cohen and Glynn. Glynn shines with a solid bass solo floating on the rhythm of Bishop and in tandem with Cohen on piano. Solid closer.
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