Jon Bentley: Go Ahead!

There is really nothing to censure on Vancouver, Canada-based tenor saxophonist Jon Bentley's latest album, Go Ahead! On the other hand, there is nothing of any import that sets it apart from other straight-ahead quartet sessions aside from the fact that Bentley employs an organ and guitar to replace the usual piano and bass.

Bentley plays the tenor well, hanging for the most part in a comfortable and pleasing groove, the like of which can be said for the other members of the ensemble: guitarist Tristan Paxton, organist Chris Gestrin and drummer Joe Poole. Together, the quartet cruises easily through a largely attractive program that embraces five of Bentley's respectable compositions, well- drawn jazz themes by Brad Mehldau, Wayne Shorter and Duke Ellington, and Paul Simon's soulful "Still Crazy After All These Years."

The studio date opens with Bentley's buoyant "Balcony Jogger," a sauntering "Tucka" and the fast-paced "Trane's Terrain" (on which Bentley unleashes his impressive chops) before turning to Mehldau's tender ballad, "Don't Be Sad." Bentley wrote the title song, which follows, and the obvious salute to guitarist Wes Montgomery, "Movin' Further Wes," on which Paxton delivers one of several perceptive and engaging solos. "Still Crazy" is next, followed by Shorter's not-by-any-means "Down in the Depths" and Ellington's handsome and eloquent closer, "The Feeling of Jazz."

As noted, everyone is focused and secure, singly and collectively, giving the listener nothing about which to complain. Go Ahead! is basically a very good blowing session overseen by four very good musicians who keep their heads down and tend to business while doing whatever is needed to enrich the music.

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