Graham Dechter: Major Influence

If you're a jazz guitarist who plans to record a quartet CD, you obviously want the most able and supportive rhythm section you can possibly find to lend its weight. For Los Angeles-based Graham Dechter, assembling such a peerless trio to enhance Major Influence, his third album as leader and first in nearly a decade, posed no problem whatsoever: Dechter's bandmates in the world-class Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra would do quite nicely. Yes, there may be rhythm sections whose talents are the equal of bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton and pianist Tamir Hendelman but you'd be hard-pressed to find one. And yes, Dechter is the leader, but to say he couldn't have done this without them would hardly be overstating the case. Everyone on the date is a consummate professional, and it shows.

As for the music, it consists of seven charming original compositions (and arrangements) by Dechter plus Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley's enchanting ballad, "Pure Imagination," from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Hamilton, a master with brushes, is superb on that number, as he is elsewhere using brushes or sticks; he'd probably be as persuasive using knives and forks. Dechter doesn't overlook the blues ("Minor Influence") and even delves into the arcane world of Thelonious Monk ("Bent on Monk," on which Hamilton offers another clinic in enviable brush work). Any doubts about Dechter's nimble chops are quickly laid to rest on the double-quick finale, "Billy's Dilemma," on which Hendelman shows that when it comes to canvassing the keyboard he's no slouch either.

The session opens on a carefree note with "Orange Coals," on which Dechter unveils his crisp and delightful single-note runs, and continues in that vein on "Reference" (featuring more dazzling brush work by Hamilton, an agile solo by Clayton and Dechter in a Wes Montgomery frame of mind). "Major Influence" sways to a gentle Latin rhythm that brings out the caballero in everyone, while the light- hearted "Moonithology" is Dechter's radiant take on "How High the Moon." Without his three amigos, Dechter could no doubt have produced an above-average album; with them on board, he has sculpted one that is absolutely irresistible from start to finish.