RICK ROE

TRIBUTE: THE MUSIC OF GREGG HILL

Cold Plunge Records

Rick Roe, piano; Robert Hurst, bass; Nate Winn, drums.

Three Detroit master musicians have come together to celebrate the composing talents of Gregg Hill, a Lansing, Michigan-based composer. The trio, headed by Rick Roe, is a tight-knit, extended family of musicians and educators. Roe has recorded over a dozen albums as a bandleader and has served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University.  Robert Hurst is a celebrated bassist and composer, as well as a seven-time Grammy Award winner. Drummer Nate Winn is Professor of jazz Drums at the University of Michigan and holds degrees from Wayne State University and Berklee College of Music.  When you combine these awesome musicians and their talents, the result is bound to be fire!

Beginning with “Elden’s Bop,” we are introduced to Gregg Hill’s masterful compositions. It begins as a jazz waltz but quickly changes to a 4/4 swinging arrangement that spotlights Rick Roe’s super talents on piano.  Robert Hurst takes a stunning bass solo, showing us why he has played with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall and Sir Paul McCartney. We are also introduced to Nate Winn’s passionate drums.  Together, these gentlemen have a comfortable, intimate and swinging sound.  Track #2 swings even harder on “Ducks Night Out.”

Roe reminds me a little of Gene Harris at the keys, famed for his piano contributions to The Three Sounds.  Perhaps it’s the blues that Roe interjects into every piece that endears him to me.  Robert Hurst walks his double bass with precision and emotion.  He’s very creative when he improvises and even when he’s holding the trio groove ‘in-the-pocket,’ he is creative and exploratory with bass lines that surprise and please my ears. Towards the end of this tune, Nate Winn shows why he is such an in-demand percussionist, taking an impressive trap drum solo.

“Julie’s Tune” is rich with gospel groove.

I see why Rick Roe and his dynamic trio decided to play the music of Gregg Hill.  These compositions are well written, fresh, and each could easily become a jazz standard.  This music is refreshing to the ear and food for the soul.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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