JAMES HUNTER SIX - WHATEVER IT TAKES
On February
2nd, 2018, Daptone Records will release Whatever It Takes, the sixth album by
The James Hunter Six. Hunter had already established himself as a permanent
fixture in the world of Rhythm and Soul with his five previous albums, each more
poignant and well-executed than the last. However, this record has buried them
all. His voice has never been more compelling, his songs never more elegantly
crafted. Recorded to tape at Daptone's Penrose Studios in Riverside,
California, Bosco Mann's production elevates Hunter's arrangements to the
altitude they deserve.
ANDY LAVERNE
- FAITH
Pianist Andy
Laverne is really showing us all sides of his talents here – not just his
wonderful skills on the keys of the piano, but also his strong ear for fresh
compositions as well! All the tracks here are originals by Andy, and they're
beautiful tracks that sparkle nicely with dark colors and tones – elements underscored
strongly not just by Laverne's work on piano, but also by the album's sparkling
contributions from Alex Sipiagin on both trumpet and flugelhorn! The pair
together are a delight throughout – balanced out with a depth that seems so
much more than just the sum of their parts – given a strongly soulful rhythm
current by Mike Richmond on bass and Jason Tiemann on drums – the latter of
whom has this snap to his work on the kit that moves along tunes that might
have otherwise got lost in a moody morass. The whole thing is great – maybe one
of the best sessions we've ever heard from Laverne – and titles include
"Enigma", "Faith", "Touch Sensitive", "All
Things Considered", "Paramour No More", and "Double
Down". ~ Dusty Groove
HAROLD DANKO
– TRIPLE PLAY
Harold Danko
sounds wonderful here with his long-established trio – a group so well-matched,
most of the songs on this set arose from collective improvisations during the
recording sessions! Yet these aren't outside, avant tunes – in which all
players roam freely in space – and instead, they're melodic, rhythmic, very
tuneful extrapolations that are often based on older standards – but which are
so transformed, you can't really hear any roots of the originals – as the
players take flight in that magical collaborative creation that marks jazz at
its best! Danko plays piano, Jay Anderson is on bass, and Jeff Hirshfield is on
drums – and titles include "Sky Blues", "Stream Of Tears",
"Shallow Waters", "Mademoiselle Dreamy", "Total
Obsession", and "Ancient & Distant". ~ Dusty Groove
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