Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, and it's curiously cool. Opening with War Crimes , a driving, angular composition, led by Joseph Santa Maria on tenor sax, with a relentless bass line and solo by David Tranchina, punctuation and further elaboration by Gary Fukushima on piano and tight drum rhythm by Colin Woodford. Santa Maria sets up Mood Of Mind on soprano sax with it's soulful melody and Fukushima on piano dances freely across the keyboard with precision work by Woodford and Tranchina interweaving a gripping bottom. Prism is another interesting track with a jagged melody set down by Santa Maria on soprano sax and Fukushima on piano jointly. Santa Maria extends the theme on sax with excellent drum and bass work maintaining the cohesion of the piece. This Must Be For You , written by Woodford is dedicated to Herbie Hancock. With it's warm, melodic feel, led by Santa Maria on alto sax it really has a rich feel with an invocative bass solo and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Isolate//Integrate , from Dean Mucetti and it's a cool funk soaked fusion release. Opening with Steps West , inspired by Coltrane's Giant Steps, has a firm, James Brown rhythm driven by Dean Mucetti and Miguel Ortiz on bass. Brian Hargrove on keys lays down the melody, joined by Dore Wallace and Jon Aparicio on guitars and Alex Williams on piano. Improvising over a central theme, a very cool jam. The Covid lockdown inspired, Licking Myself , referring to bandmembers licking their wounds from isolation. This track employs rhythmic and harmonic structure looping, expanded with an aggressive bass line and creative piano and keys interplay. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Got Lush based on Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life, with a straight up drum rhythm, overlaid with a funky bass line by Ortiz, funky guitar rhythms by Wallace and Aparicio and complex rhythmic interjections by Williams on piano and Hargrove on keys. ...