Mike Freeman's ZonaVibe: Circles In A Yellow Room

Circles in a Yellow Room, New York-based vibraphonist Mike Freeman's eighth recording as leader of his own ensembles, has a Latin flavor reminiscent of classic albums by West Coast maestro Cal Tjader. Stylistically, Freeman parallels Tjader and a host of others from Milt Jackson, Terry Gibbs and Gary McFarland to Bobby Hutcherson, Gary Burton, Joe Locke and Steve Nelson. Which is another way of saying that when it comes to the vibraphone, there is not much that separates the best of them when comparing sound, technique, perception and viewpoint.

Freeman is among the best of them, at least when it comes to playing a leading role or soloing. He is also a pretty fair composer and arranger, having written and scored every one of the album's 10 generally bright and pleasing numbers. The idea behind Yellow Room took flight in 2019, shortly before the Covid-19 epidemic struck, when Freeman wrote "Circles" and "El Cuarto Amarillo" (The Yellow Room), and was set aside for a few years while he and the world recovered from Covid's deadly pestilence.

Once back in harness, Freeman completed writing songs for the album and recruited his supporting cast: trumpeter Guido Gonzalez, tenor saxophonist Jim Gailloreto, bassist Reuben Rodriguez, percussionist Roberto Quintero and drummer Joel Mateo. It is actually a quintet, as Gonzalez and Gailloreto do not perform on the same tracks. Gonzalez and Gailloreto are capable soloists, while Rodriguez, Quintero and Mateo comprise a solid rhythm section.

The group opens with a sunny and charming "Valentine" and chipper "Funky Chai Cha" before proceeding to "Circles" and "El Cuarto Amarillo." The remainder of the program is similarly engaging, from the hearty "Back Slap" to "Midwinter Day," "Marble Race Rematch," "River Watch," "Wellspring" and the Afro-centered and rhythmically seductive closer, "The Trek." Although the release of Circles in a Yellow Room was delayed for almost five years, it is good to have it available now for listening and appreciation. Better late than never.