David Becker Tribune: Where

”The Monkey” moves lightly with a sprightly bounce, as Becker meanders along spontaneous jazz/rock trails. With the drummer going techno, and the bassist flowing harmony to the four walls, he’s on fire with guitar excitement. “Where’s Henning?” flows more evenly with a Miles Davis mysteriousness. Tucked into this title track, one can feel the driving force that lies behind much of modern jazz. However, this force is felt; not made entirely obvious. The more overt moves come forward through “All Blues,” “Footprints,” and the other jazz chestnuts on Becker’s program.

His guitars carry a personal message, but from a distance. Becker keeps this session, for the most part, cool and comfortable. “As We Speak” grips you with its heady lyricism, while “Bridge Out of Town” emphasizes a foot-tappin’ rhythm. The trio’s musicianship remains impeccable. The album lacks a turn-the-world-upside-down spark, but introduces a fine trio to a larger audience and leaves hope that this excellent guitarist will continue to carry the mainstream torch through these troubled times.

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