And Then It Rained
Jazzmo, 2020
8/10
On this 5th album, Michael O’Neill, a San Francisco Bay Area jazz regular, omits vocals, where all original tunes are fleshed out with Michael Bluestein holding down piano, Dan Feiszli on bass and Jason Lewis behind the drum kit. O’Neill brings tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, as well as clarinet to the very technical effort.
“Port Of Spain” starts the listen with gorgeous interplay between piano and soprano saxophone with plenty of swing appeal, and “Emerging Impressions” follows with a cautious display of timeless jazz as Bluestein delivers an impressive solo amid the creative balladry.
Further on, “Cloudscape” offers subtle but precise drumming from Lewis as the melodies flow from O’Neill’s brass, while “And Then It Rained” benefits greatly from a cello-like melody played on Feiszli’s bass, as soprano sax highlights the mood well. “Song For Mama Bear”, one of the best of the best, then recruits clarinet as a tribute to Pegi Brandley unfolds with precision and beauty.
“Suite Iris” and “The Dreams We Left Behind” finish the listen, where the former moves swiftly with frisky percussion and no shortage of elegant rhythm, and the later glides gently with much emotion as the song was written following a failed relationship.
Not only is this O’Neill’s first instrumental record, but it’s also his first with all compositions he penned. If this happens to be his trend moving forward, you won’t hear any complaints from me and he and the band deliver one memorable jazz tune after another on And Then In Rained.
Travels well with: Charles Lloyd & The Marvels + Lucinda Williams- Vanished Gardens; The Nel Cline 4- Currents, Constellations