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Michael Kocour: Spiffy
ByThings don't slow down until the fourth track, the ballad "Tenderly," which guitarist Bruce Forman introduces with Wes Montgomery-style octaves. The California-based guitarist lives up to his stalwart hard-bop reputation on the entire session, and contributes two tunes. "Collapso" is the most memorable. As the title implies it is a calypso, although taken at a moderate tempo unlikely to induce a collapse in these formidable players. The other cover in the set is Neal Hefti and Bobby Troup's catchy "Girl Talk." Originally written for a movie soundtrack, it has been played quite often by jazz players. Organ versions have included Shirley Scott, Jimmy McGriff, and Richard "Groove" Holmes; guitarist Kenny Burrell has recorded it as well.
This is Kocour's third 2015 release; the othersboth on OA2 Recordsfeatured him on piano (solo on Wherever You Go, There You Are, and as a member of the Unhinged Sextet on their debut disc Clarity). He explains that his teaching duties at Arizona State University often require him to complete projects in waves. It's almost too much of a good thing. But too much of a good thing is a good problem to have.
Track Listing
Dropped Third Strike; Chunky; Da Good Stuff; Tenderly; Huffininpuffin; Collapso; Girl Talk; Spiffy; Monk’s Hayride.
Personnel
Michael Kocour
pianoMichael Kocour, Hammond B3 organ; Eric Schneider, alto and tenor saxophone; Bruce Forman, guitar; Dom Moio, drums.
Album information
Title: Spiffy | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced
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