Robert Thurman - Burning Daylight - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Burning Daylight, from Robert Thurman and it real and raw. Opening with American Jesus Blues, Robert Thurman plays blues in it's most stripped down form. Just his vocal and rhythm guitar. On Blues This Morning, Thurman has created a solid melody and strums it on electric guitar, answering his call vocally. Very cool. Ofermod is a interesting little instrumental track with the basic bones of a European folk song. Nervous Blues is another track that caught my attention with Thurman singing the melody accompanied by innovative slide resonator guitar. Sonny Boy Williamson's Ground Hog Blues has real spunk and guts holding a traditional blues format. So Far From Home is one of my favorites on the release with a folky, western styling of the troubadour cowboy and guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is One Last Breath, a story told without any guitar accompaniment. This is a cool and unusual release and definitely worth a listen. 

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BDM Records artist: Bianca Rossini - Kiss of Brasil - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kiss of Brazil, by Bianca Rossini and I quite like it. Opening with Ipanema Paraiso a smooth, Brazilian pop track, showcases Bianca Rossini on vocal and Peter Roberts on piano carrying the track with nice additions by Peter Roberts on guitar and keys, and featuring some real nice sax work by Jimmy Roberts. Solid opener. Nos Dois has a very soothing sound with Marilyn Berglas on piano and strings, and Robert Montero on guitar. Very nice. Up tempo, Verdadeiro Amor really has a great rhythm with Berglas on piano, Grecco Buratto on guitar and cavaquinho, Roberts on keys and Sandro Feliciano on percussion. One of my favorites on the release is sultry, No Silencio da Noite with an inviting lead vocal line and nicely articulated piano work by Steve Rawlins. Excellent! A solid Bossa beat on Perfume de Verao features Paul Montesano whistling the melody and guitar with Roberts on keys. Nice addition. Wrapping the release is Corazon de Oro, sung in english with a a warm rhythm With Marco Tulio on guitar, Roberts on keys and Berglas on strings. Very nice closer and strong release by Rossini, whose captivating vocals carry the release. 

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Geoff Arsenault - Hired Hand - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hired Hand, from Geoff Arsenault and it's sketchy and raggedy ...and maybe just right. Opening with Steps To Gumbo, Geoff Arsenault sets a simple drum template and underscores it with laid back vocals. Joined by Zev Katz on bass, and Glenn Patscha on B3 and Wurlitzer this track sets a cool line, underscored by Joey Landreth on slide guitar. Strong opener. Just a dash of funk in his drums on Bullet Won't Stop gives it a real nice feel with punctuation by Patscha on Wurlitzer. Creatively interesting. Balled, The Great Divide is really a strong track feeling a bit like Dylan. His haunting vocal pairing with Amy Helm is super and Patscha's B3  works really nicely with iridescent sonic backing. Very nice. I Ain't Locked Down is a pure 2 step rocker with JJ Cale like style. Easley on bass and Arsenault on drums (and vocal) set the meter and Patscha on B3 and George Sluppick on tambourine give the track texture giving Colin Linden a wide open road for some real nice guitar soloing. Jazzy, Already Gone, has a cool, acoustic guitar, drum B3 backing under Arsenault's vocals and Linden again shows great flair on electric guitar. Wrapping the release is simple ballad, Cajun Soul with Arsenault delivering the melody on vocal and acoustic guitar, supported by Easley on bass, Patscha on Wurlitzer and Accordion and David Mansfield on Cajun style fiddle. Very warm closer for a cool release. 

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Catfood Records artist: Johnny Rawls - Make Them Dance - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make Them Dance, from Johnny Rawls and it's full of R&B, blues and soul. Opening with rocker, So Cold, Johnny Rawls on lead vocal leads the attack with the style early Clapton/Bramlett collaboration with Will McFarlane on guitar, Steve Potts on drums, Bob Trenchard on bass and Dan Ferguson on keys, beefed up by Mike Middleton on trumpet, Andy Roman on sax, Nick Flood on bari sax, Frank Otero on trombone, Kimberly Horton and Trinecia Butler on backing vocals. Latin flavored rocker, Make Them Dance is the title track with rich backing vocals, warm keys by Ferguson, a real nice sax solo by Roman, and hot percussion by Potts. Give It To Me has cool R&B roots with a hi stepping rhythm and solid horn backing. Rawls works the vocals and McFarlane adds cool bluesy guitar riffs making the track just that much bluesier. My favorite track on the release, Say That You Love Me, has a distinct Curtis Mayfield feel, giving Rawls a real nice chance to shine vocally. Warm vocal backing by Horton and Butler and a smooth guitar solo by McFarlane gives the track even more depth. Wrapping the release is soulful, The Long Road, with it's full horn backing. Rawls shines on lead vocals and the melody is a certain radio track.  Middleton and Otero really beef up the brass and tight rhythms by Potts make this a solid closer. 

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Not from this release:

James Zito - Zito's Jump! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Zito's Jump!, from James Zito and it's a lot of fun. Opening with boogaloo title track, Zito's Jump, Rodney Whitaker on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums set up the rhythm expanded by Luther Allison on piano. James Zito steps up throwing down fluid, machine gun riffs with solid style. I can definitely hear traces of many of the greats in there but certainly not a copy. Joseph Miller wraps in some nice sax work concluding a fine opener. Laid back Island Girl has a light Latin flavor featuring Chris Lewis setting up the melody on flute and warm, relaxing solos by Allison and Zito. Very nice. Jimmy Smith's swing track, Ready N' Able really kicks into gear with horns blazing. Featuring Lewis on tenor, Nicholas Dimaria on trumpet, Joseph Miller on alto sax, Jack Kotze on trombone and of course Allison, Farnsworth and Whitaker, this track is flying. Zito steps up with some ear opening guitar riffs that are sure to lay you flat back into you seat. My favorite!! Another terrific addition is Minor Lies with a driving bottom and punchy horns. Bud Redding's  The End Of A Love Affair is a full out jam terrific solos by Zito, Jarien Jamanila on sax, Miller on alto sax, and Allison. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Turner Layton and Henry Creamer's quick tune, After You've Gone. Starting with Zito laying down the basic melody and quiet pace on guitar, just simple backing.... then kicking it to double time really ripping up the fretboard over  Whitaker, Farnsworth and Allison. Super closer for an strong release. 

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Cellar Music artist: Geoffrey Dean Quartet - Conceptions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Conceptions, from Geoffrey Dean Quartet, and it breathes. Opening with Came And Went, Justin Copeland on trumpet has the melody, with strong support from Geoffrey Dean on piano and tight rhythm by Harish Raghavan on bass and Eric Binder on drums. Dean takes over expanding the melody with crystal clarity. Solid opener. Quiet ballad, Amidst A Dream, features a quiet yet essential trumpet solo by Copeland. Dean expands on the melody on piano and Copeland closes the track. Very nice. Springy, Song For Hannah is an adventuresome exploration on piano with a Latin twist.  With light drumming and bass, this track works nicely. Prism has a strong driving rhythm and with fluid lead on trumpet by Copeland. Dean takes the lead with strong support by Raghaven and Binder making this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the set is What May Come with a calculated pace and well structured lead by Dean. Copeland's solo is subtle and isolated giving it a strong attack. Very nice closer. 

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Silvano Monasterios - The River - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The River, by Silvano Monasterios and it's very cool. Opening with title track, The River, Silvano Monasterios sets a suoer piano rhythm with a Latin beat. Troy Roberts on tenor sax, Nestor Torres on flute, Alex Norris on trumpet, Jeff Lederer on clarinet, Ricky Rodriguez on contrabass, Lusito Quintero on percussion, Jimmy MacBride on drums and Juan Diego Villalobos on vibes create a synchronous melody. As the band drops back, Monasterios creates the first improv on the melody followed by Lederer on clarinet. Roberts on tenor really kicks things up with a juicy solo of his own, followed by Norris on trumpet. Very nice opener. Against The Current has a great Latin beat that will really suck you in. Monasterios sets the first solo on piano and his phrasing is potent and engaging. Norris on trumpet picks it up and delivers with strong intent. The melody is delivered with brilliant vibes by Villalobos and Norris and Roberts on trumpet and sax with snappy drum work by MacBride. Tight! Wrapping the release is The River Between Us, a real nice track with complex percussion rhythms. Monasterios illustrates the melody beautifully on piano and Torres' contribution on flute really float nicely. Roberts steps up with a well sculpted tenor solo, turning the track over to Monasterios and MacBride to close. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Rodney Whitaker - Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Rodney Whitaker, and it's strong. Opening with title track, Mosaic, Rodney Whitaker on bass lays down an excellent groove, bound by Rick Roe on piano and Dana Hall on piano. Terell Stafford on trumpet sets the track on fire with excellent solo phrasing, followed by Tim Warfield on soprano sax. Very nice. Roe picks up his own lead on piano with confident improvisation with Warfield and Stafford joining the reconciling  refrain giving the floor to Whitaker for a masterful solo on bass. Strong opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Claxilever features another crisp lead solo by Stafford on trumpet over tight piano/bass/drum rhythm leading to a super tenor solo by Warfield. Not to be left behind, Roe steps up scorching the ivories and Whitaker well composed bass solo, coaxed on by Roe, and Hall on drums trades riffs with Warfield and Stafford making for another excellent track. Still Life With Tuba is a cool piece with what sounds to me like a modern Brazillian influence. Pairing Rockelle Whitaker's melodic lead vocal with Warfield on sax the melody is formed and Roe's springy piano work carries the load. I like Warfield's warm trumpet dialog paired with the aggressive percussion of Hall and Warfield on soprano sax paired with Whitaker on bass and Roe on piano really is nice. Slow Gin Fizz is another track with a super groove. After and punchy intro by Stafford and Warfield, Whitaker leads the way with a dynamic bass solo, chased by Hall and Roe. Stafford picks up the lead on trumpet with super flow and dynamics. Warfield on tenor sax really works his solo on this one developing an excellent groove and Roe punctuating on piano picks up the lead without losing any momentum. A snappy solo by Hall is accented by nice riffs by Stafford, Warfield and Roe making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Sunday Special, a more subdued track with a laid back, syncopated pace and interesting melodic solo by Warfield on soprano sax. Stafford picks up the lead adding his voice followed by Roe who gets a bit bluesy in the mix and finally Whitaker who puts an exclamation point on with his bass. Strong closer for a very cool release. 

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Little Village Foundation artist: All Things Swamp - Dressed - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dressed, from All Things Swamp and it's a blast. All Things Swamp is like a poker circle of pros from unrelated bands who get together on their days off to play funky jams on their days off. I think you'll be glad they do. Opening with Sidewalk Strut, Luke Kirley on tuba starts funky, Nawlins sound quickly joined by Brian Switser on trumpet, Tim Hockenberry on trombone, Dan Gordon on bass trombone, Dean Parks on tenor sax, Aaron Lington on bari sax, and Gary Novak on drums. Lington rips a great bari solo followed by Kirley on tuba and with a smart melody and a crisp drum snap, this is an excellent opener.  Joe Zawinul's hip track, Mercy Mercy Mercy made popular by Mr Cannonball Adderley on the jazz scene and by the Buckinghams on the hit parade, gets a bigger band redo lead by Hockenberry  with some real flash on trombone and a settled down organ groove by none other than Jim Pugh. The ever present tuba line by Kirley is great. You gotta check the trombone solo by Hockenberry on Blues For Ben. Switzer on trumpet digs in nicely with a solo of his own but it always comes back to Kirley on tuba who is killer. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Rebirth's Take It To The Street with it's punchy brass lead. Gordon, Switzer, Hockenberry, Parks and Lington really get it moving with the punchy tuba work of Novak, Novak on drums and Pugh turning up the heat on keys. Excellent closer. 

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Russ Spiegel - Nitty Gritty - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nitty Gritty, from Russ Spiegel, and it's a cool release with some great tracks. Opening with Hank Mobley's Soul Station, Jim Gasior on organ, Lucas Apostoleris on drums set the foundation for Russ Spiegel's guitar lead. Nicely complimented by Gasior's organ accents a solid opener. Lennon and McCartney's Norwegian Wood gets a light redo with glistening tones from Spiegel's guitar and features a really nice bass solo by Kurt Hengstebeck. Francis Lai's pop track, A Man And A Woman, is approached with a subtle yet effective hand, pumping up it's Latin nature slightly and a soulful sax solo by Tim Armacost adds a warm richness to the track and Spiegel's lush guitar phrasing carries the melody. Consuelo Velazquez's Besame Mucho, a terrific Latin pop track, has an even more distinct Latin emphasis thanks to the drumming of Apostoleris and Spiegel's guitar approach is really clean. Gasior on organ adds a solid, rich, solo of his own. Very nice. Original fusion composition, Epic has a great rhythm setup and rich sax work by Armacost really sends it spinning. Spiegel steps back on guitar with more aggressive guitar attack and feel. I really like this track... possibly my favorite on the release. Excellent! A terrific take on Coltrane's 26-2 gives the band a chance to really hang it all out there with a snappy rhythm by Apostoleris, supportive work on keys by Gasior and smoking lead sax by Armacost. Spiegel's guitar solo will get you on your feet melding perfectly with Hengstebeck and Apostoleris on bottom. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Jimmy Guiffre's Four Brothers, given a mambo rhythm and a new flavor. Light and breezy work by Spiegel on guitar and full and fat work by Gasior on organ delivers the closer for a really solid release. 

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Zhengtao Pan - Scenery In My Story - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Scenery In My Story, from Zhengtao Pan, and it's interesting and adventuresome. Opening with Windy Days, a moody, orchestral type composition, featuring Itai Kriss on flute, Andrea Guerrini on trumpet, Massimo Morganti on trombone, Chen Wang on guitar, Manuel Trabucco and Jesse McGinty on sax, Isamu McGregor on piano, Zhengtao Pan on bass and Federico Gucciardo on drums, this is a comprehensive opening. City Machine opens with a super drum rhythm by Gucciardo and McGrego on keys. With a super fusion/orchestral blend and aggressive layering of bass by Noah Justice, Sax by Trabucco and McGinty, Wang on guitar, Morganti with a hot solo on trombone, Nick Frenay with a real nice trumpet solo, and Pierpaolo Pecoriello on flute, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Nardis is an up tempo track with hot brass courtesy of Guerrini and Morganti and and wailing sax by Trabucco and McGinty. Pan adds keys and bass and Gucciardo is tight on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is title track, Scenery In My Story, another broadly orchestral piece painting a sonic landscape.  With McGinty on flute and bass clarinet, Guerinni on trumpet, Trabucco on sax, McGregor on piano, and Ross Pederson on drums, this is a composers closer. 

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Bungalo Records artist: Micki Free - Dreamcatcher - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dreamcatcher, by Micki Free and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with bluesy, When The Devil's At Your Door, Micki Free on screaming lead guitar and Ray Green on vocal really anchors down and fires. With Mark Leach on keys, Benny Rietveid on bass and Cindy Blackman Santana on drums, this is a powerful opener. A funky bass line by Rhonda Smith on My Sweet Baby, and drums by Santana on drums sets the pace and Free on lead vocal and guitar carries the weight. With a bit of a heavier feel, Night Crawler is bass heavy with Rietveid holding the bottom and Santana setting the rhythm. Free's vocal and guitar attack gives this track real acceleration and Leach on keys is a solid addition. Wrapping the release is a live version of title track, Dreamcatcher featuring a real nice Native American flute solo and guitar work by Free over a nice bed of keys, bass, and drums by Leach, Rieveid and Santana. Solid closer. 

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VizzTone label group artist: Will Wilde - Blues Is Still Alive - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Is Still Alive, by Will Wilde, and it's a strong new blues entry. Opening with title track, Blues Is Still Alive, Will Wilde on vocal and harmonica is coming on strong. With solid vocals and scorching harp lines, paired with Walter Trout on lead guitar, Blues Is Still Alive a ear catcher. Backed by Bobby Harrison on rhythm guitar, Greg Coulson on keys, Steve Rushton on drums, Russell Carr on bass, and backing vocals by Dani Wilde, Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine on backing vocals, this is an excellent opener. Wilde really opens the door on blues rocker, Don't Play With Fire with some of the most intense harmonica work that I've heard in a while. Driving blues rocker, Trouble Of That Girl has a great driving bottom thanks to Rushton and Carr. Wilde really adds a hot lead harmonica making this one of the hot radio likely tracks on the release. On Slow blues, Stole My Love, the band lays back and gives the floor to Wilde on vocal and harmonica and he knows how to work it. High impact harmonica soloing, accented by Rushton on drums makes this my favorite track on the release. Another solid blues rocker, Learn How To Love, has a solid shuffle beat and with potent lead harmonica work and vocals by Wilde and nice backing vocals by Wilde, Bonnic and Josephine, this is another solid radio candidate. Another slow blues, Broken Dreams Blues gives Wilde a great opening to dig down deep on harmonica. Chided along by Rushton, it's really cool to hear harmonica play guitar like phrasing. Excellent!  Wrapping the release is shuffle, Don't Trust Me, with it's rocking bottom and power organ by Coulson and a slick guitar lead by Harrison. Solid closer for a super release. 

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Ermelinda Cuellar - Under A Lavender Sky - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Under A Lavender Sky, by Ermelinda Cuellar and it's really smooth. Opening with classic Latin jazz track, Poinciana adapted from a Cuban folk song by Simon and Bernier. Presented with clear vocals by Ermelinda Cuellar on vocal and surrounded by rhythm by Anthony Caceres on bass, and Marlon Simon on percussion and featuring a strong guitar solo by Greg Petito, this is a solid opener. Mucenca Rota is a rich Peruvian ballad written by the Quinteras and Cuellar really digs deep emotive presentation. Featuring Darrell Lavigne on piano, Jerre Jackson on drums and Deborah Ungar on accordion, this is a nice entry to the set. Johnny Mercer's classic, Midnight Sun is another top track with super lead vocal by Cuellar. Lavigne on piano, Jackson n piano, Andre Hayward with a soulful trombone solo, Petito on guitar, and Caceres on bass really give the track nice balance. Horace Silver's classic, Song For My Father really shines with a Latin beat and features an excellent guitar breakout by Petito over Sam Dinkins III and Marlon Simon on percussion and Hayward really rips on trombone. Very nice. Wrapping the release is another Johnny Mercer track, Sol De Medianoche with rich Latin feeling. Cuellar featured on vocal of course, backed by Jackson on trumpet, Jackson on drums, Lavigne on piano, Caceres on bass, Petito on piano, and really nice additions by Hayward on trombone and Horace Alexander Young on sax make this an excellent closer. 

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Miller Three Publishing artist: Mark Scott III - Soft Light - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soft Light, from Mark Scott III and it's a mix of bop and contemporary jazz. Opening with Carpals, Mark Scott III on guitar leads the way with clean lead and chord emphasis over a tight rhythm by Ben Triesch on bass and Mike Gordon on drums. Triesch gets a nice opportunity to shine on bass as Scott falls away to give him room. This is a strong opener with solid bop roots and concise concepts. Very nice. News Blues sounds like a jazz classic with a straight forward melody on guitar. As the track develops, Scott deconstructs the melody and explores on guitar, giving a bit of space for Gordon to lay in an articulate drum riff before returning to the cohesive melody. Monster Beat has a bit of a modern groove with Gordon holding it tight and Scott running free over nicely placed bass lines by Triesch. Very cool. Smile has a happy go lucky feel with Scott cruising on the melody, supported by loose bass by Triesch and a tight bottom by Gordon. Scott uses a nice synchopation on some of his lead lines and bursts of speed on others, giving the track just a little more oomph. Very nice. Another cool bop is Tomorrow with excellent drive from Gordon and Triesch giving Scott a clear pathway for fluid guitar runs accented by rich chords. Wrapping the release is The Sun Behind A Cloud with a warm,  nicely crafted melody on guitar, with rich chords wrapping each phrase, emphasizing the breadth of the track. Nice closer. 

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Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band - What Is? - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Is? by Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band and it's energetic and fun. Opening with Tower of Power's, What Is Hip? and it really moves. With aggressive drum work from Scott Neumann and Michael Aarons on guitar the onslaught begins. Jopined by Dan Levine on trombone, Jack Schatz on bass trombone, Matt Hong on alto sax (who plays up a storm), Stan Harrison on tenor sax, Frank Vacin on bari sax, Matt Owens on trumpet and Audrey Flores on French horn and punched up by Steve Count on bass and Bill Hayes on vibes and congas, this track really pumps. The Beatles She Said, She Said has an interesting arrangement like orchestrated Beatles on Zappa. Owens' trumpet work is really solid, Levine gets a real nice opportunity to shine on trombone and Harrison rips a great sax solo of his own, but the excellent drum/Xylophone work of Neumann and Hayes really give the track excellent texture. Saint Stephen/Turn On Your Love Light is a blend of Grateful Dead with again a dash of Zappa. Owens on trumpet shines on Stephen and Vacin honks on Love Light in tandem with Levine and  guest on Uncle John's Band, Oz Noy on guitar and Harrison on soprano sax spice up the mix. Throw a little blues in with Freddie King's Hideaway  giving Aaron's a chance to show his chops and with the deep throated sax work of Vacin and Hayes on vibes adding a bit of swing. Shifting to a meatier mix on Peter Gunn, Harrison really makes his tenor sax sing over the tight drum work of Harrison and Flores plays full on French horn. Wrapping the release is a Latin take on the Green Hornet with Owens really tonguing it out. Precise xylophone work by Hayes and light cymbal work by Neumann with Count on bass hold the bottom and flashy guitar phrasing by Aarons under a clean horn backdrop make this a perfect closer. 

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Shifting Paradigm Records artist: Jackson Potter - small things - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, small things, from Jackson Potter and it's a groove. Opening with Trams, Jackson Potter on guitar and Hamish Smith on bass set a great riff, joined by Alex Ridout on trumpet and Troy Roberts on sax forming a solid melody and tightened up by Marcello Cardillo on drums. Roberts broadens the track with some real meat on sax and Potter shows excellent fluidity and purpose laying out a really nice guitar lead. Roberts again steps up with some great riffs of his own and Cardillo shows a snappy bottom Excellent opener.  Title track, small things, has a warm melody and Roberts cruises nicely on tenor sax creating  a lush first solo, followed by Potter who's guitar work is clean and has just a slight Latin seasoning, capped by Ridout on trumpet. Very nice. Background Noise opens with Roberts on sax but joining with Ridout and the addition of Cardillo, really winds it up with a more direct Latin rhythm. Potter's guitar solo is more adventuresome in nature  and really flourishes upon the rejoining of trumpet and sax. On Cole Porter's Everything I Love with a tight bottom by Cardillo and Smith. Potter takes the first lead and his fingers fly on the fretboard popping excellent riffs and warm chords. Never missing a beat, Roberts takes the lead and really wailing. Ridout takes his turn laying back but expressively  taking charge. Very strong. Wrapping the release is Sophia's Waltz, a quiet composition framed by Potter and Ridout on trumpet. Smith takes lead on bass really showing his feel, supported but light guitar work by Potter. Ridout and Potter each add lush solos to the composition but this track is all Smith. Very nice closer. 

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 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening