Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Dreams , from Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf and the title seems quite appropriate. Opening with Towner , Kalaf on drums, forms a tight, stabling, drum reference as Haslip creates a chord like structure over which Coates plays soaring solo lines. Very nice. On Faith , Kalaf uses brushes on the snare head and cymbal to give structure, firmed by Haslip's bass lead and adorned by the articulated melody by Coates. Before is a playful track with Coates on synth, super improvisational bass lead by Haslip and a direct snappy drum line by Kalaf. My favorite track on the release is Sacred with a percussive rhythm by Coates freeing Haslip to play lead on bass and giving the space to Kalal to improvise on drums. Wrapping the release is Retrograde giving Kalaf the lead with explosive percussion over the synth guitar work of Coates. With atmospheric work by Coates, Kalaf really works the heads, leading to rudimental...