This recording celebrates a friendship going back many years, dating to when
Bob Brookmeyer
was struggling with alcoholism in the mid-'70s and a young drummer,
Michael Stephans
, was trying to encourage him to return to performing. Fast forward to the year 2000 and all is well;
Brookmeyer
is at the top of his game as a valve trombonist and composer/arranger, with
Stephans
ready to play. In addition to
, bassist
Tom Warrington
and guitarist
Larry Koonse
are on hand for some exciting music, with true interaction among the players, an all too rare occurrence in modern
jazz
.
"If I Loved You"
is a solid opener, stretching well past
Rodgers & Hammerstein
's original concept of the song.
"Wistful Thinking"
was written by
Eric Von Essen
, a talented bassist whose compositions are only starting to be appreciated since his untimely death.
"Stay Out of the Sun"
is a playful work by
that is full of humor, while his tender
ballad
"Kathleen"
opens with a moving duet by the leader and
Koonse
"The Turtle"
is primarily a loping
bop
number, though it begins with a wild chase between
and
"Bruise"
sounds like a group
improvisation
initially, though it eventually winds its way into an intricate
blues
setting. The novel duo arrangement of
"Blue in Green"
begins with unaccompanied guitar, with
making a powerful entrance in due time; the haunting chart has an unresolved ending. The leader switches to piano for
's emotional
"Longing."
Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden