Sextet Session
Dmac, 2024
9/10
The always impressive guitarist Doug MacDonald is aligned with an all star assembly of Doug Webb, Aaron Janik, Josh Nelson, Mike Gurrola and Charles Ruggiero for these 8 straight jazz tunes.
The fluid and smooth melodies of “Desert Blues” opens the listen with Webb’s bright sax and Ruggiero’s lively drums complementing MacDonald’s spirited guitar lines, and “Whispering” follows with Nelson’s intricate piano and Gurrola’s playful bass helping cultivate a charming jazz landscape.
“You’ve Changed” and “AT #33” land in the middle, where the former showcases MacDonald’s inimitable playing amid the dreamy textures, while the latter illuminates Janik’s soulful trumpet that suits the cautious yet frisky album highlight.
Arriving near the end, “Si Miner” allows for the animated bass plucking to radiate, though the soaring brass doesn’t disappoint, either, and “Bubbles In The Wine” exits with an uplifting and rich landscape that’s dance floor ready and flowing with infectious interaction between the players.
There is just no bad place to start in MacDonald’s impressive catalog of music, and Sextet Session is right at the top of his discography, which is no easy feat.
Travels well with: Paul Kendall- Whisper Not; Rob Susman- Top Secret Lab