Gerry Gibbs: Songs from My Father

Drummer Gerry Gibbs pays tribute to father Terry Gibbs on the amazing nineteen-track double-CD set Songs from My Father featuring a guest appearance by the ninety-seven-year-old vibraphonist on one track, among other surprises, including the last studio performance by the late jazz icon Chick Corea, who also wrote "Tango for Terry" for this homage and is the only non-Gibbs composition on the album. Son Gerry had plenty of his father's music to choose from when contemplating this project but chose to feature eighteen charts selected from the 1940s through the 1980s highlighting some of the finest from the elder Gibbs' long distinguished career.

Recording with one of the drummer's Thrasher Dream Trios just didn't seem good enough for this special tribute so, leader Gibbs went all out and decided to make it a four-trio challenge and when the son informed his dad, the vibest is quoted as saying "I thought the pandemic has got to his brain. No way, all these ultra-talented musicians on one record... Gerry is really dreaming." Well, sometimes dreams do come true as evidenced by the all-star cast of players. Trio one features Corea on piano and Minimoog and Ron Carter on bass, while trio two has Kenny Barron on keys and Buster Williams on bass. The third trio has pianist Patrice Rushen and Larry Goldings on the Hammond B3 organ and the last trio has Geoff Keezer on piano and Christian McBride on bass.

Requiring a double-CD format to include all nineteen tracks, Gibbs makes sure that all four trios are documented on each CD, ensuring that each trio has two tracks per disc. The music is swinging and compelling, one of the rare albums where each piece is a keeper. From the opening "Kick Those Feet" to the "Tango for Terry" the sound is absolutely superb.

Songs from My Father is truly a remarkable album by a remarkable cast of musicians in honor of a remarkable vibraphonist. A desert island selection for sure.

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