Oddbar Trio plus Trombone: Lost Art Cafe

Lost Art Cafe is brought to you by the Oddbar Trio (plus Trombone) - on the venerable West Coast based "9Winds" label. This tight little unit packs a mighty punch with tunes such as "Cletus Ngugu" which touches on "electric" Miles. Here, veteran trombonist John Rapson and trumpeter Brent Sandy show their proficient attributes while guitarist Steve Grismore throws a wrench in the works with some absurdly delightful and off-center guitar phrasing. This piece also boasts sinewy upfront funk bass work from Grismore who utilizes his 6-string guitar, a solid backbeat and a memorable hook. Oddbar has some fun with the swing classic "Stompin At The Savoy" as Steve Grismore's "Suesy Bluesy" features a slow-drag blues riff complimented by some sharp hard edged soloing from the composer. On this piece, John Rapson's muted trombone choruses supply the pathos by way of clever and endearing dialogue. Drummer, Jim Dreier's "6 Beat Cajun Mambo" features a mighty fine New Orleans shuffle beat underneath a cool and well-stated horn arrangement as the sole lyric and chorus of "Mambo" is shouted in unison by the bandmates. "Monk's Mood" is sublime and boasts a gorgeous solo by Rapson who skillfully utilizes his "octave pedal" to great effect. Steve Grismore's "Little Dirty" is a gas! On this piece, the band display humor, more super-tight ensemble work and at times dabble with a little free improvisation; although, the highlight here is the enticing and cheerful melody line.

There may be a little for everyone here. Oddbar Trio (plus trombone) are a diverse bunch. The compositions whether Sun Ra's "A Call For Demons", the aforementioned "Monk's Mood" and others mesh well with the original pieces; hence, these guys are highly capable and clever tunesmith's Excellent material combined with superb musicianship equate to a complete and wholesome package.........Recommended. * * * *

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