Just A Dance
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
A veteran composer who has penned some well known songs for TV and commercials, Al Hammerman returns with his 5th album, and he’s got pop, jazz, blues and Latin influences in his arsenal that are fleshed out by an all star cast of musicians and vocalists.
“What Else” starts the listen with Alan Ox’s smooth, bright vocals guiding Miles Vandiver’s precise drumming and Jason Swagler’s alto sax prowess, and “Everybody Knows” follows with Erin Bode’s expressive pipes alongside Phil Ring’s melodic guitar and solos on alto sax thanks to Ben Reece, as the setting touches on pop influences.
Deeper into the listen, “In LA” displays R. Scott Bryan’s playful percussion amid Arvell Keithley’s soulful singing and Garrett Schmidt’s trumpet solo that won’t go unnoticed, either, while “Just A Dance” recruits Abbie Steiling’s stirring violin into a calm setting of orchestral qualities that benefit much from Feyza Eren’s poetic vocals. “Sad Sunny Day”, one of the album’s best, then brings back Bode’s pretty singing and plants a keyboard solo from Mark Maher in the middle of the mature, jazz friendly climate.
As we enter the end, “Keep Keep’n On” showcases Owens’ fluid voice in an upbeat and glorious atmosphere of radiant brass and soothing backing vocals, and a 2nd version of “Just A Dance” exits the listen with Eren’s emotive singing accented by warm piano and moving violin.
Thankfully, Hammerman doesn’t hide his influences from Gershwin, Porter and Jobim, and his vision certainly runs parallel to the Great American Songbook across this timeless and exceptional body of work.
Travels well with: Joel Frahm- The Bright Side; Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra- Twisting Ways