Ides Of March
Modica, 2020
8/10
A legendary jazz musician from Canada, the JUNO winner Dave Young is in the company of Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Reg Schwager (guitar) and Terry Clarke (drums) here, and together the ensemble offer us an accomplished, swingin’ jazz album, where the bulk of the listen are Herbie Hancock compositions.
“Dolphin Dance” starts the listen with soft trumpet as light percussion and Young’s precisely plucked bass support the soulful jazz atmosphere, and “Speedball” follows with a lively execution of dynamic interaction amid the graceful yet frisky climate.
Right near the middle, “One Finger Snap” glides swiftly with no shortage of melody amid its contemporary jazz appeal, while “Riot” cultivates a restrained rhythm where Young’s bass prowess is front and center. “My Man’s Gone”, an album highlight, then finds itself in ballad territory as much beauty flows from the cautious brass.
“The Target” and “Forty Five Degrees” round out the listen, where the former finds plenty of clever grooves, and “Forty Five Degrees”, one of the two Young originals, exits the listen with a whole lot of fun wrapped into a playful finish where spirited guitar lines really add much to the memorable exit.
A pillar of the jazz community and also an educator, Young proves with Ides Of March that 5 decades into his career, the quality of his craft isn’t waning one bit.
Travels well with: Doxas Brothers- The Circle; Rebecca Hennessy- All The Little Things You Do