Joe Chambers: The Outlaw

Nicole Richardson adds a lovely vocal to "I Think it's Time to Say Goodbye, which is supported by a lightweight rhythm section and synth strings. Chambers demonstrates once again that he's always been a tasteful drummer who takes advantage of every textural alteration possible.

Chambers' vibraphone melodies flow like water through a garden's sunny haven. He offers a beautiful harmonic color throughout the session and shades with lovely melodies. While everything falls into place naturally, it comes as quite a surprise that the ensemble's saxophone would register with such a decidedly different tone and texture. Unlike Chambers' velvety smooth vibraphone timbre, the alto and soprano provide a grainy texture that runs opposite to the leader's direction. This becomes a distraction on "Come Back to Me, where the soprano resembles a snake charmer's tool, and on "The Outlaw, where the alto dances awkwardly around the vibraphone's smooth Latin cascades.

As the album closes with a lovely "Poinciana, you get a pretty good idea of the versatility that Chambers employs on his recordings. He plays vibes and piano here, plus several other instruments elsewhere. Thus, he's able to provide us with a sensible balance of lush harmony, graceful melody, and gentle, underlying rhythms.

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