Doug MacDonald Trio: Edwin Alley

Los Angeles-based guitarist Doug MacDonald, busy as ever, is comfortable in any setting, from big band to solo. On Edwin Alley, MacDonald leads a trio (Mike Flick, bass; Kendall Kay, drums) through eight of his bright and well-drawn original compositions and one standard, the amorous entreaty "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." The album is a follow-up to MacDonald's impressive trio date Serenade to Highland Park and is his tenth recording as a leader in the last six years.

Edwin Alley is an historic area in Old Town Pasadena where MacDonald's trio has a regular Thursday night gig. While there is no tune by that name on the album, there are some dedications, starting with the minor blues "Zoot and Pepper" (for Hall of Fame saxophonists Zoot Sims and Pepper Adams), including the ballad "Benedetto's Theme" (for guitar designer Robert Benedetto) and even encompassing an ode to Italian broccoli (the lightly swinging "Rapini"). "Eyow/This Is It" is based on Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Tuned Out" on Miles Davis' jazz standard "Tune Up."

Completing the program are MacDonald's carefree and charming "JT," "Three for Two" (in 5/4 time) and frisky "Groove Blues," on which MacDonald plays a Portuguese guitar called the coimbra. No matter what he's playing or how, MacDonald has much of interest to say, always in a clear and unambiguous voice—as do his running mates, Flick and Kay, who share solo duties on most tracks and are never less than admirable. This is a first-class trio, enhanced by MacDonald's exemplary compositions, and is warmly recommended to those who appreciate unerring teamwork in the service of personable music.