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Peter Lerner: Continuation
ByThe size of the group ranges from quartet to octet, with Lerner and Pickens present throughout, bassist Marlene Rosenberg and drummer Rick Heath backing them on all but the last track ("When Sunny Gets Blue"), and saxophonist Geof Bradfield, flugel Victor Garcia, trombonist Andy Baker and percussionist Joe Rendon sitting in on various numbers. Lerner wrote half a dozen tunes to complement "Sunny," guitarist Grant Green's galloping "Jean de Fleur" and trumpeter Kenny Dorham's graceful "La Mesha."
The session opens with Lerner's fond salute to Pickens, "Willie n Me," a vigorous anthem on which the horns lay out while guitar and piano trade muscular solos. "Once Upon a Chance Encounter" pairs a lovely melody with incisive statements by Lerner, Pickens and Barfield's expressive tenor, while the cheeky "Southside Strut" paints a funky portrait of Chicago's southernmost precinct. "Jean de Fleur" and "La Mesha" are preceded by Lerner's assertive "Amazon" (splendid work by Bradfield on flute and Garcia on flugel) and followed by his aptly named "Funkdat" and irrepressible "My Blues," on which Pickens validates his blues bona fides with an impassioned solo and Lerner, Rosenberg and Heath follow suit.
As noted, there's nothing here that is less than agreeable. Lerner and his colleagues are seasoned pros who leave nothing to chance. Continuation is well-planned, well-recorded, well-played and well worth seeking out.
Track Listing
Willie n Me; Once Upon a Chance Encounter; Southside Strut; Amazon; Jean de Fleur; La Mesha; Funkdat; My Blues; When Sunny Gets Blue.
Personnel
Peter Lerner
guitarPeter Lerner: guitar; Willie Pickens: piano; Geof Bradfield: tenor, alto sax, flute; Victor Garcia: flugelhorn; Andy Baker: trombone; Marlene Rosenberg: bass; Charles “Rick” Heath IV: drums; Joe Rendon: percussion.
Album information
Title: Continuation | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Origin Records