Once again the Seattle-based trio
New Stories
hits pay dirt with the follow-up to its first release,
Circled By Hounds
. Helped along by significant contributions from several guests, pianist
Marc Seales
, bassist
Doug Miller
, and drummer
John Bishop
settle on a play list of
jazz
classics and original material. Recalling the
modal music
days of the 1950s and especially beyond, the kickoff tune,
"Prince of Darkness,"
sets a high standard for the session with
Hans Teuber
's sax the foil against which the craggy harmonies of the trio are contrasted. The group gives
Miles Davis
'
"Circle"
a definitely soulful rendering, this time with the tenor of
Rick Mandyck
providing the spiritual center, with major efforts by
Seales
' piano and the rhapsodic pizzicato bass of
. This track is small-group virtuosity at its best.
Improvisational
skills matched with unabashed
ballad
romanticism end the album with
"Deep in a Dream."
The soprano sax of veteran
Don Lanphere
is the highlight of this track, as
comps gently underneath. Another fine track. The group plays with an introspective style, nothing very fast (except for a hard-driving
"One-Finger Snap"
), trivial, or shallow. Instead, deep thoughtfulness permeates each tune. This approach to the music might be classified small-club
, where a combo is playing for a small but knowledgeable audience of
fans, who hang on each note and who appreciate the subtle but definite presence of the interplay among those providing the music. It's a place where pieces by
Wayne Shorter
,
Davis
Herbie Hancock
, and
Joe Zawinul
seem to be most at home. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan