Harvie S, Roni Ben-Hur with Sylvia Cuenca: Wondering

One of the drawbacks of being a consummate sideman is that it can be hard to find time for one's own projects as a leader. That is certainly the case for bassist Harvie S who, in a long career, has distinguished himself with superb work in support of Sheila Jordan, Don Friedman, Alan Broadbent, and many others; however, the sheer quantity of those efforts can cause his own releases to fall through the cracks. Hopefully that will not be the case with Wondering, a fine album involving a trio with guitarist (and co-leader) Roni Ben-Hur and drummer Sylvia Cuenca. Filled with understated charm, and comprising some terrific choices of repertoire, the ten tracks offer an abundance of smart, well-played jazz from start to finish.

Harvie and Ben-Hur have recorded once before, on 2018's Introspection (Jazzheads), so it was a natural choice to do a follow-up, this time with Cuenca taking over the drum duties from Tim Horner. The three possess a sympathetic rapport which is quite compelling, particularly on the Latin-inflected tracks such as Raul de Souza's "A Vontade Mesmo," a spirited samba which brings out especially fleet playing from both the bassist and the guitarist, and Antonio Carlos Jobim's gorgeous "Ligia," a showcase for Ben-Hur's mastery of the bossa nova form. The straight-ahead jazz cuts are quite effective too, with a memorable rendition of the Miles Davis & Gil Evans classic "Boplicity" and a hard-swinging take on Bobby Hutcherson's "For Duke P." Herbie Nichols' "Some Wandering Bushmen" has a sinuous appeal thanks to Cuenca's crisp work on the toms (not to mention her pulsating solo), and Kenny Wheeler's "The Forks" gives Harvie the chance to demonstrate his lyricism with a solo which expertly reflects the composer's trademark melodicism.

The bassist and drummer each get a composition of their own. "Ray" is a tribute to Ray Brown, and Harvie's in-the-pocket solo pays homage to his forebear, while Ben-Hur's "What Was" stays in a Latin mode once again to highlight the guitarist's sensitivity with a winsome melody. Through it all, Cuenca is the force which holds the group together, her veteran instincts allowing her to drive the music forward with subtlety and grace. She is given her due in the production of the album as well, nicely occupying the right channel alongside the bassist in the center and the guitarist in the left, allowing for a full appreciation of the egalitarian temperament of this excellent trio.