Roy Campbell Quartet: It's Krunch Time

Some of the pieces on It's Krunch Time explore time and space with curiosity and liberation. "The Opening," for example, wanders quite a bit as Campbell soars high and Jamal breaks down the barriers of harmony. Morris pulses rather regularly on this one, and Brown offers delicate accents throughout. But then it's a big leap to the hard-swinging funk of Monk's "Bemsha Swing"—where Brown and Morris stick like glue in the pocket. On this tune, Jamal comps the changes while Campbell solos in straight-ahead fashion on top. (In the same vein: "Ode for Mr. DC.") The opener, "Tenderness of Spring," starts out with a delicate, lyrical bass solo and very gradually evolves into a sensitive ballad. The closer takes on "The Star Spangled Banner" with a conspicuously Hendrix-like deconstruction. (Unfortunately, Hendrix's version is much better, in my opinion.)

It's Krunch Time presents a tasteful mix of straight-ahead jazz, lyricism and adventurism, though it mostly stays in an accessible range. This disc deserves praise for its postmodern electicism, and it certainly defies any type-cast roles for its musicians. For the most part, it's a winner—though I'd like to hear these players stretch out a bit more together.