Prime Vintage
DPU, 2023
8/10
The educator, pianist and organist Steve Snyder has played on 20 recordings since 1992, and here along with Joel Tucker and Kenny Phelps he turns in 8 lively modern jazz tunes.
“Legacy” opens the listen with Snyder’s very cozy keys alongside Tucker’s dreamy guitar for the stylish climate, and “Message From The Meters”, the lone cover, benefits much from Phelps’ agile drumming, as plenty of grooves are cultivated.
“So Be” lands in the middle and pairs the shimmering guitar with crisp drums, while “Fourth Sixth” spotlights the key acrobatics, where the organ creates a mood of both intimacy and exploration.
“Those Two” and “So That’s What This Is About” exit the listen, where the former presents plenty of distinct organ manipulation that’s quite ambient, and the latter is an upbeat and rhythmic album highlight that you won’t soon forget.
A debut for this trio, let’s hope it isn’t a one off effort, cause the dynamic chemistry between Snyder, Tucker and Phelps makes for a funky, cautious and memorable version of jazz that tips its hat to Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith and Larry Young.
Travels well with: Pete McCann- Without Question; Vin Venezia- The Venetian