JAROD BUFE

BRIGHTER DAYS

Calligram Records

Jarod Bufe, tenor saxophone; Tim Stine, electric guitar; Matt Ulery, acoustic bass; Jon Deitemyer, drums.

Saxophonist and composer, Jarod Bufe has pulled an all-star aggregation together. Here is an album that utilizes some of the most in-demand musicians on the Chicago, Illinois contemporary jazz scene.  Each of these musicians is a band leader individually. All these compositions are written by Jarod Bufe. Formerly, this ensemble released an album called “New Spaces.”

On this current release, the quartet opens with “Midnight” that points the spotlight directly on Bufe for nearly half the tune. Midway through, Tim Stine steps stage-center playing his electric guitar, improvising over a minor mode.

Most of this music was composed during the pandemic. “The Forgotten Before” is not as dark and ominous as the first tune. It’s lighter and brighter, overall more hopeful. The melody is catchy and the tempo dances across my listening room more carefree, like children skipping down a sunny path. Matt Ulery takes an extended acoustic bass solo, until Stine’s guitar enters the arrangement. Bufe’s tenor saxophone brings his own sense of happiness and freedom when he improvises. He has a smooth tone on his instrument, that both entertains and invigorates.

“Fighting for Hope” is something we all did during the precarious time of the COVID pandemic.  This arrangement features Jon Deitemyer laying down a funk beat to perpetuate the music forward. The melody is infectious.  “Loss of Agency” issues in the blues with a Straight-ahead arrangement that I enjoy.

Their first ballad is titled “Goodnight My Brooklyn Prince.”  It was composed in tribute to Bufe’s close friend, client, teacher and collaborator, the late saxophonist, Mark Colby. Bufe offers his heart on his sleeve when performing and composing this song. The ensemble’s presentation is emotional. Stine’s guitar solo is buoyed by the bass heartbeat of Ulery.

A tune titled “Eclipse” barrels out of the production with Jon Deitemyer playing a drum solo at the introduction. Stine and Bufe establish the melody, then Ulery steps forward to take an improvised bass solo.  This is a quartet of musicians who are old friends and work well together. Comfortable as caffeinated tea and honey, this musical project is both sweet and stimulating.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

 

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