Joe Locascio: Book of Days

Pianist and composer Joe Locascio has released his seventh album, titled Book of Days. The album was recorded in Houston's famed Wire Road Studios and featured his long-time collaborator Woody Witt on saxophone, bassist Richard Mikel and drummer Daniel Dufour. The project was initiated by Witt, who asked LoCascio to play a few gigs with these two dynamic musicians. As a result, LoCascio composed these specific compositions for this group and this recording.

"Fantomas" opens the ten-song set with a flowing introspective melody carefully orchestrated and developed. Witt launches his solo with expressive, emotional saxophone playing; colorful articulations support his way as LoCascio employs voicings of supportive surfaces. Mikel's bass notes particularly lock with Dufour's drive. The result is a sophisticated solo of deep expression. LoCascio's apt piano support keeps the beautiful colors and mood of the melody. His compositional skills focus on accuracy in turning tones into music picturesque with fascinating side paths.

"Notes in a Foreign Hand" shows LoCascio's marvelously inventive touch as a composer and soloist. His confident cooperation with Mikel and Dufour is always apparent as he expresses himself with his two-hand dexterity. Witt's solo is another strong musical statement as his line movements fan out across the harmonic structures. Witt knows when to be vigorous to create a complex solo and how to shape moods and melodic atmospheres.

Book of Days is ten compositions which reveal a modern jazz approach performed by a delightful quartet. Each song brings new colors and emotions, often cinematic but consistently delivering a unique musical journey.