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dragonfly

A discriminating and effortless blues groove is the overall feel of “Hip Factor” by Steve Allee from the album “Dragonfly” Owl Studios 2008.

This trio is comprised of Bill Moring-bass, Tom Horner-Drums, and Steve Allee-keyboards/piano. Special guests Rob Dixon and Rich Perry -sax, round out the group.

What’s interesting about this particular jam is the the mid tune unison between Dixon and Allee. This is one of those tunes that can be enjoyed in just about any setting. I happen to listen to it while driving to work.

When the tune begins,the horns sound like a muted trumpet(a la Miles), until it gets underway. The tonal quality of all instruments played have an elegance rooted in simplicity.

Tom Horner is rather soft spoken on the drums opting for what sounds like brushes on the snare. Bill Moring is equally minimal on the bass, offering counterpoint to the drums.

The crux of the tune lies in the afore mentioned sax and piano phrasing, at first alternatively, then combined.

If listened to closely, you can hear Allee change from electric piano to acoustic and back again.This is my only slight dissappointment, I think the acoustic piano sounds better, at least in this case. Get off anyway!

Track listing:

1. Bus To Belmopan
2. Dragonfly
3. Somewhere
4. Yummy
5. Morning Glory
6. X&Y
7. Dedication Suite: Conversation With Bill
8. Dedication Suite: Thaddeus
9. Dedication Suite: If I Were a Bell
10. Hip Factor

Personnel:

Steve Allee-keyboards Bill Moring-upright bass Tim Horner-drums
Rich Perry, Rob Dixon-saxophone

COP DIS JAM

real brox

Ahhh jazz!. So many styles, so little time.
“Gateway” is a track from the “Real Brox” 2 disc CD, 2002 by the quintet Beeblebrox.

Central to the tune are Monica Herzig on piano, Tom Clark on sax, and her husband Peter Kienle on subtle guitar and synth fills,recorded live, with a noticably bluesy feel.

If this had been recorded in the studio, it would most likely still evoke 50’s nightclub/black & white movie soundtrack images,because these cats are just that adept at their craft of imparting their musical message.

Monica shines and is at ease with classical arpeggios, or sparkling jazz riffs. Tom’s pleadingly plaintive tone on the sax is somewhat reminiscent of a mix of Eddie Harris, John Klemmer, and David Sanborn, done of course in a way uniquely his own.

Laid back, but by no means narcoleptic, I love this tune, and their style of playing.

Tags: beeblebrox, blues, downlink this jam, gateway, GUITAR, jam downlink, jazz, peep this piece, piano, profyousion, profyousion TV, realbrox, review, sax
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