Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Waking Music: The Music of Gregg Hill & Randy Napoleon and it's solid, inspired and inventive. Opening with Super Moon , you immediately get a sense that this release is going to be a new excursion. Clock like rim shots and unexpected snare/cymbal shots by Quincy Davis , piano rhythm by Rick Roe and featuring Randy Napoleon and Jocelyn Gould on guitar creates a euphoric feel. Breaking to a real nice bop, led by Rodney Whitaker on bass, Napoleon lays down a low slung solo that really creates a groove. Gould picks up the baton and runs with it creating a nasty groove of her own. Whitaker takes center focus and he makes the groove fly. Circling back, Davis recreates the clock like timing and reggae slap. Very interesting. The Speckled Frog has a cool Latino bop feel with super drum and percussion by Davis and walking guitar texture by Napoleon and Ben Turner . Anthony Stanco sits in on trumpet shoveling a heap of...