The
sound is softly swinging and richly pliant. Veteran reedman Bob Most
has his arsenal of saxophones stacked up, and a double-CD release conveniently packaged in two distinct settings.
That
rhythm section on both CDs is led by Kenny Barron with bassist Bob
Crenshaw. Drummer duties are shared by Steve Williams and Victor Lewis.
first has Most with a standard rhythm section. The second recording has
Most's quartet augmented by tenor man Steve Hall and trumpet player
Josh Evans.
intimacy are Most's very personal vocals on several standards, the kind
of singing that always feels genuine even when the melodies get
scarcely more than a kind caress in passing.
However,
it is the horn sounds that make this release so special. No matter if
he is playing tenor, alto or soprano, Most draws a distinctive tone from
each horn. His tenor recalls the Lester Young/ Ben Webster era of macho
warmth, his rhythms sensual as the smoky, dark leather nightclubs they
recall.
His higher pitched alto still has that plaintive quality of yearning hearts
adrift in confusion. Even his soprano solos on "You Must Believe in
Spring" and "By Myself"' are free of that fish horn penetration we
associate with the instrument these days.
Or just call Mover in this shaded quartet setting the jazz equivalent of George Clooney, making old school the new cool.
When those additional horn players get into the studio, Most stops singing
and the energy picks up considerably. The boldly bebop chops come out,
with Most encouraging everyone to add more notes.
Having so many accomplished musicians involved, with such cleanly written
charts, every track (all but one written by Most) becomes a quick witted
conversation worthy of repeated listening.
Sample the tracks at bobmover.com or motema.com
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