Califournia Quartet
DMac, 2019
8/10
Some of the best of the best in Los Angeles come together on this accomplished listen as Harvey Newmark, Paul Kreibich, Kim Richmond and, of course, Doug MacDonald combine their respective talents on 6 originals and 4 covers where many forms of jazz are covered.
“A Beautiful Friend” gets the album right into tumbling percussion, soothing alto sax and winding melodies, and “Malapropisms” follows with a stylish, warm, blues spirit. Further along, “San Rafael” offers us a classic, waltz jazz feel with sweeping rhythm, while “Lakeside Drive” makes the most out of calming guitar lines and agile percussion.
The backside of the album offers us the playful, soulful “E Spot”, the brief, introspective “The Things We Did Last Summer”, and the swift and dynamic “Tenderly”. The album closes on the bop fun and brushed percussion of “I Want It”,
An enthralling journey of lovely solos, swinging sounds and proficient interplay, all players here have done fine work on their own and in other ensembles, but this debut together brings them into unparalleled chemistry that will hopefully continue.
Travels well with: Charlie Parker- The Charlie Parker Story; Jim Hall- Textures