Wondering
Dot Time, 2022
8/10
The bassist Harvie S and the guitarist Roni Ben-Hur bring along Sylvia Cuenca’s drums for these 10 tracks that were recorded live with no editing during a brief respite from Covid’s limitations.
“Boplicity” leads and indeed does bop with much warmth and playfulness, as Harvie’s bass is plucked so precisely, and “For Duke” follows with swift drumming and agile guitar lines in the melodic and frisky climate.
At the midpoint, “The Gentle Art Of Love” is quite intimate, and unfolds with an indeed romantic spirit thanks to the charming bass and soft drums, while “Ray” showcases the stunning bass acrobatics amid reflective guitar and a very focused Cuenca.
“What Was” and “Menage Blue” exit the listen, where the former is stylish, energetic and dynamic, and the latter finishes with a dreamy, introspective mood of lovely interaction between the trio.
The sound quality here is incredible, and despite fleshing it out during a fleeting window of opportunity, it flows with a very calculated demeanor that embraces modern and fusion aspects into the trio jazz formula.
Travels well with: The Ostara Project- The Ostara Project; Kirk Lightsey- Live At Smalls Jazz Club