180
Origin, 2022
8/10
The DC resident and guitarist extraordinaire Shawn Purcell finds himself in the company of Pat Bianchi (Hammond C3 organ), Jason Tieman (drums, cymbals), Darden Purcell (vocals) and Ben Patterson (trombone) for these 11 adventurous tunes that tip their hat to heroes like Pat Martino, Grant Green and Wes Montgomery.
“Cat And Mouse” opens the listen with a bouncy rhythm that benefits from swift guitar and frisky drums in its timeless jazz appeal, and the title track follows with stylish keys amid the restrained drums and spirited guitar.
“A Time For Love” is when we first hear vocals, and it comes with an intimate demeanor that complements Darden Purcell’s expressive, poetic pipes, while “A Long Stroll” shakes and rolls with an infectious energy that’s quite mesmerizing in its textured display.
Nearing the end, “Window Games” offers a busy and dynamic interaction of hard bop nods, and “Search And Destroy” exits with all the players lending their inimitable talents to a quick and driving finish.
A listen of primarily originals (Johnny Mandel’s “A Time For Love” is a nice addition), Purcell and company birth a unique energy here that embraces all the hallmarks of post-bop’s past, and injects a very modern appeal that will resonate long after the music stops.
Travels well with: Bruce Barth Trio- Dedication; Dave Slonaker Big Band- Convergency