Fishin’ Again
OA2, 2023
8/10
The esteemed keyboardist Dan Trudell is no stranger to swing fun and groove filled song craft, and here be brings along Mike Standal, Dana Hall, Pat Mallinger, John Wojciechowski and Joel Adams for the energetic 7 tracks.
The title track starts the listen with Trudell’s agile keys alongside Wojciechowski’s soulful tenor sax and Hall’s frisky drums in the dynamic and flowing 10+ minutes, and “Chocolate Martini” follows with Mallinger’s diverse alto sax prowess and a dense buzzing that make for an extremely adventurous delivery.
In the middle, “Horse” benefits much from the well timed brass and funk stabs in the animated climate, while “Holler Back” shuffles swiftly with acrobatic keys and off kilter melodies that make this the album’s best.
All the songs up to this point were penned by Trudell when he was playing with the drummer Clyde Stubblefield. “Scream”, which exits the listen, is a busy, textured and spirited jazz affair that was recorded live the day after Dr. Lonnie Smith, who it pays tribute to, passed away.
A very diverse and meticulous listen that will appeal to fans of jazz from any period, Trudell and company make for a lively and very memorable experience.
Travels well with: Libby York- Dreamland; Eric Jacobson- Discover