Keith Pray: Confluence (2012)

Edward Blanco

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2005

Ed has been a jazz fan for 35 years and hosts a jazz radio program at WDNA 88.9 FM.

Recent articles (380 total)

Published: May 29, 2012

When not leading the 17-piece Big Soul Ensemble, the Soul Jazz Revival group or the New Orleans-style Mohawk Brass Band, bandleader, educator and alto saxophonist Keith Pray fronts a hard-swinging quartet performing at venues in Albany and throughout the Capital District of upstate New York. Confluence is his fifth recording as leader, a project he designed for his working quartet but modified with the addition of guitarist Chuck D'Aloia Chuck D'Aloia
b.1956
guitar , an idea that remained percolating after seeing a 1994 gig of the Joe Henderson Joe Henderson
1937 - 2001
sax, tenor trio with John Scofield John Scofield
b.1951
guitar as the fourth player. The result, of course, is the perfect gathering necessary for the Confluence of a well-designed and appealing musical endeavor.

Leading with his favorite track of the recording, Pray opens up the music in hard-driving fashion with "The Calling," a stretched-out minor blues featuring dynamic solos from Pray, D'Aloia, pianist Peter Tomlinson Peter Tomlinson
and drummer Jeff "Siege" Siegle. The rhythm section comes to life on the harmonious "Triangle, Circle, Square," another wonderful original featuring brisk interchange between the pianist and the leader—a light tune that also serves as the inspiration for the album's simple cover art. D'Aloia contributes a piece of his own with the dark "Alley Cat," its haunting melody over a rather free-style tune something of a departure from the recording's overall theme.

Pray delivers a unique rendition of Jimmy Heath Jimmy Heath
b.1926
sax, tenor 's "Gingerbread Boy," his fresh arrangement changing the pace and tempo of the original tune; inspired by trumpeter Ray Vega Ray Vega

trumpet 's take on saxophonist John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone 's "Africa," Pray inserts some gyrating funky rhythms here. "Song for Katie," an homage to Pray's wife, graces the recording as the set's love ballad, highlighted by tender moments from the saxophonist, accompanied Tomlinson's beautiful chords. There are more superb saxophone solos to be had on the album's dicey title track, as the band gets back to the disc's familiar post-bop theme.

The album concludes as it began, featuring another exciting piece of music with the melody-rich and gorgeous "Winter Brings." Bassist Lou Pappas Lou Pappas
takes his piece of the instrumental solo pie, dishing out light intricate bass lines before Pray and the others weigh in. Blending creative and innovative original compositions with the power-playing performance of Pray and his band, Confluence seems the perfect vehicle for bringing these artistic expressions to light in an album that leaves little to chance and a lot to enjoy.

Track Listing: The Calling; Triangle, Circle, Square; Alley Cat; Gingerbread Boy; Vamp for Peace; Two Years of the Lotus Blossom; Africa; Song for Katie; Confluence; Winter Brings.

Personnel: Keith Pray: alto saxophone; Chuck D'Aloia: guitar; Peter Tomlinson: piano; Lou Pappas: bass; Jeff "Siege" Siegle: drums.

Record Label: ARC - Artists Recording Collective