David Blake: Fun House

David Blake and his teammates are definitely having a good time on Fun House, the Vancouver, Canada-based guitarist's third recording as leader, as their energy and enthusiasm flow through the speakers. This is Blake's first album in a setting other than a trio, as he shares the front line here with trumpeter Thad Bailey-Mai and has added a second trumpet, Brad Turner, to complement bassist Conrad Good and drummer Bernie Arai.

Blake wrote all but two of the session's nine generally upbeat numbers; the others are Bailey-Mai's introspective "Where's There," and Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington's exquisite "Single Petal of a Rose" (performed a cappella by Blake). Solos are rather evenly divided, with Turner providing breezy counterpoint while Good and Arai oversee the rhythm with ardor and assurance. Blake's tone is pleasing—a definite asset—and he solos astutely, relying for the most part on melodious single-note runs.

Blake writes basically the same way, with engaging melodies in the forefront, underscored by intricate harmonies and shifting time signatures. The ensemble is with him all the way, twisting and turning as required to breathe life into his sunlit compositions, starting with the good-natured "Jon, No Jon" and continuing through "Devil Stick," "Play Dead," "Flowers for Kenny," "Bernie Does It," "Fun House" and "All to Say." "Fun House" is especially buoyant, with solos to match by Blake, Bailey- Mai, Good and Arai leading to the gentle finale, "All to Say."

This is a very good session, one with a number of engaging high spots and persuasive blowing by Blake and his companions. The quintet design suits him well.