Michael Dease GROVE’S GROOVE
MICHAEL DEASE
GROVE’S GROOVE
Le Coq Records
Michael Dease, baritone saxophone/composer/arranger; Bill Cunliffe, piano; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Ulysses Owens Jr., drums; Jocelyn Gould, guitar/vocals/arranger; Alex Acuna, percussion; Terell Stafford, trumpet; Steve Davis, trombone/composer/arranger.
The title tune, “Grove’s Groove” opens this album with bluster and bravado. The album title is a tribute to the great Roy Hargrove, who was a mentor and inspiration to Michael Dease. The soulful way that Dease plays his baritone saxophone is intoxicating. This tune is rooted in the blues and the horn harmonies introduce us to the melody over the tight groove that the rhythm section lays down. With Bill Cunliffe on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and locking chops with Ulysses Owens Jr., on drums, you have a magnificent rhythm section at work. Dease rumbles his way into the spotlight, playing his baritone sax like his life depended on it. The iconic Terell Stafford takes a trumpet solo that continues the magic and sooths the spirit. Rodney Whitaker lets the listener know that he’s on the scene, fingers dancing across the strings of his double bass with innovation. Steve Davis has both composed and arranged this title tune. The tune originally came out on Criss Cross Jazz label with another all-star band. The difference in this presentation, for the tune and for Michael Dease, is that he’s playing baritone sax and not trombone.
Jocelyn Gould arranged the familiar “Tea for Two” tune, singing the lead vocal, playing the guitar and adding the opening verse for good measure. The band shuffles along, once again featuring the smooth, sexy sound of the Dease baritone saxophone. Gould takes a guitar solo followed by the trombone solo of Steve Davis. This is a tune everybody wants a piece of, so in jumps Terell Stafford, using the plunger on his trumpet. Bill Cunliffe has a playful light-heartedness to his piano solo. Whitaker is always solid and creative on his bass improvisations and then Jocelyn Gould is back with her lovely vocals. She swings us right out of the tune.
Great percussionist, Alex Acuna joins the group on “Seiko Time” composed and arranged by Michael Dease. This is a wonderful, melodic, Straight-ahead arrangement that features the awesome baritone sax of Dease as the main character on stage. There is nothing I love more that a well-played baritone saxophone and Michael Dease is a master on his instrument. Steve Davis is also an exciting addition to the mix during his innovative trombone solo.
This is an all-star project with a cast of characters who are individually awesome on their instruments. But the multi-instrumentalist, Michael Dease is the star of this show.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
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