Overtones
Dmac, 2022
8/10
The esteemed jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald never disappoints, and here he’s with an indeed all-star cast who help him flesh out 7 originals and 1 standard of straight forward, timeless jazz.
“Night By Night” starts the listen with Kim Richmond’s alto sax and Bill Cunliffe’s skilled acoustic piano complementing MacDonald’s playful guitar lines, and “Bossa For PK” follows with a soft and soothing approach that benefits much from Aaron Janik’s soulful trumpet and Roy McCurdy’s precise drumming.
Deeper into the listen, “Hortense” displays Chuck Berghofer’s plucked bass amid the glowing climate of waltz beauty, while “Lover Man” emits a romantic demeanor as MacDonald’s guitar acrobatics are nothing short of stunning.
Further still, “Ground Up” bops and shakes with a swingin’ good time, and “Rickey Speaking” exits the listen lively, rhythmic, and full of mid-tempo friskiness that you can’t help but enjoy.
MacDonald has now released 4 records recently, and he’s got 18 ahead of those, too. An artist with a wealth of talent, he packs funk and blues ideas into Overtones, as he again proves that he’s the best of the best in the area of jazz.
Travels well with: Doug MacDonald- Serenade To Highland Park; Dave Stryker- As We Are