Sonic Bouquet
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
The inimitable guitarist Jocelyn Gould is versed in swing, blues and bebop ideas, and that’s all present here as we’re treated to 9 tracks that take help from Randy Napoleon, Virginia MacDonald, Will Bonness, Rodney Whitaker and Quincy Davis.
The frisky “Trailblazer” opens the listen with Bonness’ lively keys and Davis’ fluid drumming complementing the smooth guitar playing, and “Tender Is The Night” follows with Whitaker’s infectious bass lines adding much melody to the breezy climate.
Further along, the meticulous guitar playing of “The Kicker” helps cultivate the many grooves of the playful mood, while “Last Of The Rounders” gets dreamy and intimate via MacDonald’s well timed clarinet and the harmonic rhythm section.
“Is That So?” and “Napoleon’s Prelude” exit the listen, where the former features more firm drumming and mesmerizing guitar work, and the latter is a radiant display of dynamic interaction from the guitars, keys and drums.
A listen that seems like a live performance, the tracks were laid down in just one day, and it makes for a colorful, rich and sometimes obscure execution, where some of the brightest in the area of modern jazz again impress us with their command of their instruments.
Travels well with: Will Bonness- Is This A Dream?; Rodney Whitaker- Oasis