Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Doug MacDonald Trio: Edwin Alley
Doug MacDonald Trio: Edwin Alley
ByEdwin Alley is an historic area in Old Town Pasadena where MacDonald's trio has a regular Thursday night gig. While there is no tune by that name on the album, there are some dedications, starting with the minor blues "Zoot and Pepper" (for Hall of Fame saxophonists Zoot Sims and Pepper Adams), including the ballad "Benedetto's Theme" (for guitar designer Robert Benedetto) and even encompassing an ode to Italian broccoli (the lightly swinging "Rapini"). "Eyow/This Is It" is based on Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Tuned Out" on Miles Davis' jazz standard "Tune Up."
Completing the program are MacDonald's carefree and charming "JT," "Three for Two" (in 5/4 time) and frisky "Groove Blues," on which MacDonald plays a Portuguese guitar called the coimbra. No matter what he's playing or how, MacDonald has much of interest to say, always in a clear and unambiguous voiceas do his running mates, Flick and Kay, who share solo duties on most tracks and are never less than admirable. This is a first-class trio, enhanced by MacDonald's exemplary compositions, and is warmly recommended to those who appreciate unerring teamwork in the service of personable music.
Track Listing
Zoot and Pepper; Eyow/This Is It; Benedetto’s Theme; Three for Two; Groove Blues; JT; Rapini; Tuned Out; You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Edwin Alley | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced
< Previous
You Know I Care
Comments
Tags
Doug MacDonald Trio
Album Review
Jack Bowers
Edwin Alley
Self Produced
Doug MacDonald
Mike Flick
Kendall Kay
Zoot Sims
Pepper Adams
Miles Davis