Coast
Mocean, 2022
8/10
A Denver outfit of all stars in the area of funk, jazz, soul and electronic sounds, Bttrfly Quintet, i.e. Eric Bloom (trumpet), Borahm Lee (keyboards), Adam Deitch (drums), Hunter Roberts (bass), and Dominic Lalli (saxophone) make the most out of these 10 exciting tracks.
“Marauders” starts the listen with warm drums and soulful sax, as playful bass enters the cozy jazz climate, and “Upperhand” follows with acrobatic drumming amid the bright brass, where an unpredictable and melodic delivery is appreciated.
In the middle, “Tijuca” is textured with a dynamic precision that allows each member’s strengths to shine bright in the busy delivery, while “Flume” flows with plenty of free jazz nods in its spirited and mesmerizing demeanor.
“Moon Strut” and “Scribbled Paper” exit the listen, where the former benefits much from the precise rhythm section and both cautiousness and adventurousness are present in spades, and the latter pays much attention to mood that’s quite apparent in the strategic interaction between the quintet.
The members of Bttrfly Quintet have spent time playing in Big Gigantic, Break Science and Lettuce, and they bring that experience and expertise to these rich, groove friendly and ‘70s flavored tunes that make an excellent debut.