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Cinque: Catch A Corner
ByGadd, whose versatile swing/funk drumming was featured on dozens of jazz and funk recordings throughout the '70s, is right at home here. He hasn't lost a thing over the last few decadeshe's as sharp and as inventive as ever. Botos has the mellow soul-jazz thing down pat, and demonstrates how it's done on "Conflicting Advice," the CD's slinky, urbane opener. Saxophonist John Johnson, a first-call session man in the Toronto studios, has a big warm tenor sound reminiscent of Houston Person and Stanley Turrentine, and his overdubbed horn section on "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" sounds like something from one of Gadd's old Stuff records with Richard Tee and Cornell Dupree.
The feel on Catch A Corner is super-tight, yet really spontaneous. DeFrancesco, a flashy and energetic soloist who, at first glance, doesn't really fit the laidback jazz-funk mold, might seem to be the odd man out here. However, the band's repertoireassembled on-the-spot during the recording sessionincludes a number of pieces suited to DeFrancesco's hyperactive Jimmy Smith-inspired style. These tunes hearken back to the early- to mid-1960s, the heyday of the Hammond B-3 combos led by players such as Smith, Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff. DeFrancesco really lights up "Gepetto's Blues," a hot serving of basic grits 'n gravy blues, and comes barreling out of the gate with some big thrills on "Over The Humpty Dump," a hard-charging jazz waltz. DeFrancesco also proves to be a consummate team player, providing, for example, an endless array of slick and swinging fills behind Botos and Johnson on the gospel- drenched second half of "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning." Botos' Rhodes work here also makes a particularly good impressionhe's a true soul-jazz keyboardist in the vein of Horace Silver and Cedar Walton.
The appeal of Catch A Corner lies in the abilities of these five musicians to find a freshness in some very basic and familiar- sounding material. They are hugely successful in that regard; the playing here is excellent and inspired throughout. While some of the music may be a bit too mellow and easygoing for some, those who enjoy slinky '70s jazz-funk and '60s organ jazz will find Catch A Corner a veritable treasure trove.
Track Listing
Conflicting Advice; Geppetto's Blues; Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; Two Worlds; Catch a Corner; Over the Humpty Dump; Bolivia; Still Crazy After All These Years.
Personnel
Steve Gadd: drums; Peter Cardinali: bass, horn arrangements; Joey DeFrancesco: Hammond B3 organ; Robi Botos: piano, Fender Rhodes; John Johnson: saxophones.
Album information
Title: Catch A Corner | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Alma Records