kev rowland
Mostly an instrumental album, this captures the Larry Newcomb Quartet with Bucky Pizzarelli working through a series of numbers that vary in age from covers dating as far back as 1932 and brand-new originals. Each of the eleven songs are dedicated to individuals who have had an immensely positive impact on Larry, most particularly Dick Hall who passed away in June 2016. Larry is an incredibly thoughtful guitarist, never using a multitude of notes when just a few will do, concentrating instead on the tone he is getting out of his instrument, and fitting in with the music around him.
Although he has studied with many jazz masters, including Bucky Pizzarelli himself, he has also looked further afield so that Hank Marvin can be heard to have been an influence, as well as B.B. King. He is a complete master of his instrument, and the result is an album that is incredibly easy to listen to, with drummer Jimmy Madison, bassist Dmitri Kolesnik and pianist Eric Olsen all as one, creating a sound that the listener wants to dive into and immerse themselves with. Melodic, improvisational, and always in control, this is an album where the music is far more important than any individual player. A wonderful piece of work.