Jim Robitaille Group: To Music (2004)

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: April 5, 2004

Four words regarding Jim Robitaille’s new recording To Music : Dave Liebman, holy shit! Forget the mystical liner notes and every other thing that tries to soil this recording with New Age sentiment. Dave Liebman totally rocks.

Now, with that out of the way...

To Music owes its entire existence to John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner, spiritually speaking; this lofty, atmospheric music recalls the transition between My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme. The opening waltz of the disc shows hat would happen if Coltrane had colored within the lines. It is a grand duet between guitarist Robitaille and saxophonist Liebman. Liebman’s saxophones are extroverted and friendly, even boisterous. This melds well and offers a stark comparison to the ultra-cerebral playing of the leader. Matt Richard provides a very polite version of McCoy Tyner, airy and abstractly melodic. Highly recommended.

Visit Jim Robitaille on the web.

Track Listing: Freedom Waltz, Arthur C, Parallels, Adagio, West End Strut, Hypnotic Nights, Miro, Yesterdays, Lost And Found.

Personnel: Jim Robitaille

Record Label: Whaling City Sound
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream