Nitty Gritty
Ruzztone, 2025
9/10
The always impressive guitarist Russ Spiegel is joined by Jim Gasior, Lucas Apostoleris, Tim Armacost and Kurt Hengstebeck for these hard bop and rock ideas that emit plenty of timeless jazz flavor.
“Soul Station” starts with an indeed soulful spirit, where Spiegel’s warm guitar suits Gasior’s well timed organ, and “Prelude To A Kiss” follows with Apostoleris’ frisky drums amid plenty of rhythm and melody.
Close to the middle, “A Man And A Woman” welcomes Armacost’s cozy tenor sax to the intimacy, while “Deep Brooklyn” allows for Hengstebeck’s meticulous electric bass to illuminate the rich and thoughtful album highlight.
Landing near the end, “26-2” is a busy yet controlled display of upbeat jazz rock that’s dynamic, and “Four Brothers” exits with Spiegel’s precise guitar alongside the playful rhythm section and unpredictable keys.
This is Spiegel’s 7th album, and much like everything he’s done, it’s a diverse effort that swings and isn’t short on grooves, and the company he’s in sure don’t disappoint, either.
Travels well with: Russ Spiegel- Caribbean Blue; Brent Laidler- Hidden Gems