Jon Menges

Spirit Of 3, Spirit Of 4

Menges, 2023

8/10

Listen to Spirit Of 3, Spirit Of 4

The trumpet and flugelhorn extraordinaire Jon Menges brings along Nathan Childers, Joe Fitzgerald, Pete McCann, Evan Gregor and Robert Weiss to these timeless standards, classics and originals in a trio and quartet setting.

“Anchor The Path” opens the listen with Menges’ soulful brass amid McCann’s warm, intricate guitar for the cozy, Latin climate, and “Stairs” follows with Gregor’s well timed bass complementing Menges’ playful horn manipulation of the adventurous track.

In the middle “Turning Point”, the last track as a trio, showcases the bright trumpet and dynamic interaction between the guitars in an Irish sort of way, while “Coqui” showcases Childers’ animated sax and Weiss’ agile drumming for the album’s best.

Approaching the end, “Mina Buta” offers an intimate and atmospheric display of reflective qualities, and “Somethin’” exits with a lively, rhythmic execution that will appeal to all fans of jazz.

A listen that can swing with charm just as it can reside in sublime balladry, Menges and company rarely stay in one place long, and it sure does make for an unpredictable, exciting listen.

Travels well with: Marc Ciprut- Blue Horse; Buzz Amato- Muse Cafe

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