A wonderfully sparse and subtle offering from guitarist
Philip Catherine, featuring
Tom Harrell on fluegelhorn and
Hein Van de Geyn on bass. This drumless trio pays memorial
tribute to
Chet Baker with a tranquil, melancholy set of
standards and originals, beginning with
Miles Davis'
"Nardis" and continuing with an extended
Catherine original titled
"Twice a Week." The set also includes a swinging
"I Remember You," a mid-tempo
"My Funny Valentine," and a nod to
hard bop with
Hank Mobley's
"Funk in Deepfreeze." Harrell contributes two originals,
"From This Time, From That Time" and
"Songflower," while
Van de Geyn weighs in with a dark
waltz,
"Soul Role." Catherine closes the album with his own angular, altered
"Blues for G.T." Catherine's bright, twangy sound and tasteful use of vibrato, harmonics, octave leaps, and volume and chorus effects distinguish him from many other straight-ahead
jazz guitarists.
Van de Geyn proves himself to be not only an excellent timekeeper, but also a conversational ensemble player. And this stripped-down setting especially flatters the velvety, lyrical brilliance of
Tom Harrell. ~ David R. Adler
