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
Stephans, 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
Brookmeyer 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
Brookmeyer and
Koonse.
"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
Brookmeyer making a powerful entrance in due time; the haunting chart has an unresolved ending. The leader switches to piano for
Koonse's emotional
ballad "Longing." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden
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