NEW RELEASES: MATT BREWER - UNSPOKEN; RICKEY VINCENT – PHOOL 4 THE FUNK; RUDY ROYSTON TRIO - RISE OF ORION

MATT BREWER - UNSPOKEN

A beautiful album from bassist Matt Brewer – a set that's got a very rich sense of tonal color and melody, but served up in some slightly unusual ways! Matt's bass is a key part of the record, as is his great songwriting – but the overall sound draws plenty from the balance between the piano of Aaron Parks, tenor of Ben Wendel, and guitar of Charles Altura – all musicians who get plenty of space to shine on their own, but who also have a way of weaving together with an incredible sound! Drummer Tyshawn Sorey provides just the right sort of subtle accompaniment for their blend – and Brewer steps out with a few bolder moments from time to time – on titles that include "Lunar", "Tesuque", "Aspiring To Normalcy", "Juno", "Unspoken", and "Evil Song". ~ Dusty Groove.

RICKEY VINCENT – PHOOL 4 THE FUNK

A surprisingly strong set from radio personality and author Rickey Vincent – a set that's got the man himself on the cover, looking like some heir to the George Clinton empire – which is mighty fitting, given the old school vibe of the set! The album's got a definite 80s funk sort of approach – with basslines and beats that really fit the mood – and the set features a some snippets from Vincent's show, with the voices of older stars over the new funky instrumentals – which makes for an impressive lineup of guests that includes Cornel West, Paris, Junie Morrison, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley, and even James Brown. The vibe is maybe more of a funk mix CD, than a straight album – but the whole thing's pretty darn compelling, with titles that include "African Americans", "Trippin With Junie", "Deep Sea Divers", "Go Wiggle Extra Wiggle", "Bernie's P Soup", "Hollow Cost", "Welcome To My World", "Ride On It", "Funk-O-Nots", "Thumpasorus Galacticus", and "West World". ~ Dusty Groove

RUDY ROYSTON TRIO - RISE OF ORION

Rudy Royston's fast becoming a player to watch – a hell of a drummer when he works in other people's groups, and a growing leader with a bold, fresh vision in jazz! This set's a killer – a non-stop flurry of fantastic, inventive sounds from a trio headed by Royston on drums, with Yasushi Nakamura on bass and the great Jon Irabagon on saxes – really taking advantage of the open space of the record to blow with the brilliance he brings to his best music! There's almost a vibe here that reminds us of the important Sonny Rollins trio sides of the late 50s – but the whole thing is even more freewheeling, with more of a sense of on-the-fly creation – as just the right sounds seem to spin effortlessly from all players involved. Titles include "Rise Of Orion", "Alnitak", "River Styls", "Kolbe War", "Nautical", "Sister Mother Clara", "Dido's Lament", "Make A Smile For Me", and "Man O To". ~ Dusty Groove