(Artists: Fred Wesley, trombone; Marvin Stamm, trumpet and flugelhorn; Carl Atkins, alto and baritone sax; Bob Sneider, guitar; Mike Holober, piano; Jay Leonhart & Keter Betts, bass; Akira Tana & Rich Thompson, drums)
Fred Wesley was James Brown’s main trombone player, a ‘bone player who could help lay down JB’s funk. It’s a natural progression for Wesley to lead a jazz band that can swing. There are apt references to a golfer swinging his driver on both the front and back cover of the CD and even an inclusion of a track titled Par Three, on Wesley’s foray into small big band jazz on his new CD, It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing. Wesley’s band DOES swing-straight down the fairway.
How could you miss with sidemen like Marvin Stamm. Akira Tana, Jay Leonhart, Carl Atkins and Mike Holober? An even more special reason to run out and buy this CD is the likely final recorded appearance of Keter Betts, the jazz bass titan, who passed away two months after this CD was recorded.
The CD is a mixture of pure funk such as Wesley’s Wicked Walk, coupled with more sophisticated fare like Akira Tana’s Dream Catcher, which features Holober’s piano and the warm trumpet tone of Marvin Stamm. Rich Thompson’s Eventually is pure big band swing and Betts gets some nice solo time. Keeping up the variety is Body & Soul done as a duo feature for Stamm and Holober, and it is a gorgeous rendition.
Missin’ RB Blues is bassist Leonhart’s tribute to the late Ray Brown, complete with Jay’s vocals and a gutbucket solo by Wesley. Johnny Mandel’s classic, Emily, is given traditional trio treatment of piano, bass and drums, and Holober does this chestnut proud. Ellington’s title cut is done near double time and all the band members contribute – with Betts getting maybe his last chance to record this jazz standard.
Duke’s Just Squeeze Me is done as a rarity of just basses – Leonhart and Betts. This track alone justifies this CDs purchase. The aforementioned Par Three, guitarist Bob Sneider’s contribution, mixes the front line horns with blues lines by Holober. Carl Atkins’ Acirfa has an exotic orchestral feel and a true title that you can figure out with a mirror, just like Sonny Rollin’s Airegin.
Wesley’s foray into jazz ends appropriately with a Keter Bett’s composition, Head Start, which highlights Betts’ opening vamp, and is one more outstanding example of the seamless funk/straight ahead jazz hybrid that this release provides. It swings as hard as a John Daly drive. Fore!
Tracklist: Wicked Walk, Dream Catcher, Eventually, Body & Soul, Missin’ RB Blues, Emily, It Don’t Mean a Thing, Just Squeeze Me, Par Three, Acirfa, Head Start
– Jeff Krow
