RANDY HOEXTER

TOMORROWSVILLE

Canoe  Records

Randy Hoexter, piano; Jimmy Haslip, bass; John David, drums; Emrah Kotan, percussion; Mike Stern, guitar; Eric Alexander, trombone; Gordon Vernick & Justin Powell, trumpet; Sam Skelton, saxophones/flutes/bass clarinet; Roberta Setzu, vocals.

“Rosetta Stone” plays with time and Hoexter’s piano is very classical throughout.  The Jimmy Haslip bass line plays like a descant against the piano medley, giving the piece an interesting and creative arrangement based on 5/8 rhythms inspired by the North African music culture.  John David is brightly featured on drums throughout.  “The Dragon fly” is a tune that catches my attention like a passing ambulance siren. It’s based on a contemporary rhythm groove and Hoexter explains that it’s meant to give the listener a feeling of going from walking to flying.  When Hoexter composed the piece, he was thinking of the speed and grace of a dragonfly in flight. Mike Stern plays an impressive guitar solo.

Hoexter’s composition, written to tribute pianist Horace Silver, is titled “Argentum (For Horace)” with intricate horn lines and a smart memorable melody.  Sam Skelton is featured on saxophone during a break-out solo from the acrobatic horn harmonics.

“The Wine Dark Sea” offers vocals by Roberta Setzu.  It’s a pretty tune that celebrates the color of the sea being ‘wine-dark’ from the point of view of a sea siren. Setzu is masterful when she attacks the intervals between melodic notes, her voice landing cleanly on the upper register tones like a horn.

I enjoyed the way Haslip’s bass line dances rhythmically like an African drum on the tune, “Diaspora.”  Hoexter employs Ermah Kotan’s talents on percussion, John David on power drums and the consistent horn ensemble that punches out the melody line atop the 7/4-time signature.  I love the surprise addition of Skelton’s flute.  It lifts the arrangement. This tune became an immediate favorite of mine.  His composition “Particle Accelerator” is exciting and energetic, shining the spotlight on his horn section. The title tune seems to reflect his appreciation of Chick Corea’s Latin influenced music. It is meant to reflect hope for a brighter future and features Gordon Vernick on trumpet.

Randy Hoexter offers us contemporary jazz with a classical twist stitched through the fabric of his compositions. He uses piano colors to thread his obvious talent through the arrangements.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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