Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

There are times when a little extra effort goes a long way. To record the Denver Sessions, guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict flew from the Los Angeles area, vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker from New York City to team with the Mile High city's Patrick Mcdevitt (bass) and Paul Romaine (drums) for Askren and Benedict's twelfth album together and fourth as co-leaders. Was it worth the trip? In one listener's opinion, first-class tickets, no matter the price, would be cheap when compared to the warmth and excitement that enliven almost every heartbeat of the Denver Sessions.

This is a superlative session from start to finish, one in which inserting Piltzecker in the starting line-up was a stroke of genius, as he is not only an excellent soloist but lends substance and color to the ensemble on every number. Still, the enterprise would be little more than average were it not for nine outstanding original compositions, three apiece by Askren, Benedict and Piltzecker, leading to the buoyant finale, a slightly Latinized version of Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman and Chick Webb's venerable jazz standard, "Stompin' at the Savoy."

Askren wrote the bop-flavored opener, "Jackie's Idea," which nods to the '60s music of Jackie McLean, Charles Mingus and other hard-boppers, as well as the album's lone ballad, "Memories," and the fast-moving "Englewood Cliffs," a salute to the late Rudy Van Gelder's legendary New Jersey recording studio. Piltzecker's ardent samba, "Poised," follows "Cliffs," and the vibraphonist also penned the groovy "Resilience" and high-spirited "Rumba Liam." Not to be outdone, Benedict earns high marks for the debonair "Marie Adele" (a salute to his late mother), the minor blues "Ennui, Anyone?" and high-octane "Orange Express."

Splendid marks as well for the ensemble, which coordinates flawlessly while never overlooking its essential purpose, which is to swing. Romaine is a rhythmic powerhouse who displays his impressive chops on "Orange Express" and elsewhere, while McDevitt never misses a beat. Benedict moves between alto and soprano saxophones, and is dazzling on either one. He has to be, to keep pace with Askren and Piltzecker who never leave an engaging phrase unturned. After embracing the delicacies that precede it, "Stompin' at the Savoy" puts the icing on the cake, blending an admirable mood and tempo with more inspired ad libs by Benedict (on alto sax), Askren, Piltzecker and Romaine.

Askren, Benedict and Piltzecker, who gained inspiration in Denver, should travel there more often. The Denver Sessions encompass music that appeals to the heart and mind, and is easily recommended.

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