Label: Outside in Music, 2022

Personnel - Geof Bradfield: alto and soprano saxophone, bass clarinet; Chris Madsen: tenor saxophone; Matt Gold: guitar; Clark Sommers: bass; Dana Hall: drums.

In a departure from the trio format of his Ba(Sh) project, American bassist and composer Clark Sommers shifts into a thrilling, top-flight quintet on Intertwine, for which he welcomes two talented saxophonists: longtime collaborator Geof Bradfield and Chris Madsen. Guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Dana Hall complete the lineup, guaranteeing fun at every turn.

The rhythm section prods the soloists - especially the saxophonists whose statements are showcased throughout - while forming the linchpin of Sommer’s compositional aesthetic. Pleading for a better world and with George Floyd’s death in mind, “Also Tomorrow” pairs a melodic folk demeanor with unknotty grooves that shift seamlessly in shape maintaining the three-time feel. Madsen and Bradfield gasp into their horns with narrative purpose and systematic articulation, being followed by Hall, who makes a good use of his percussive malleability.

“James Marshall”, a dedication to the mighty guitarist Jimi Hendrix, throws disorienting rhythmic accents into the rollin' bluesy rock swagger that serves as a vehicle for Gold’s evocative soloing. Conversely, with “Second Guesses”, the group draws on the jazz tradition with a throw back to the hard-bop era. It opens up for a swinging party and solos, and then there are bars to be traded with the drummer. “Harbor”, a solo bass interlude, makes the bridge between this piece and the introspective “Ancient Voices”, designed tunefully in six with subtle harmonies and bass clarinet at the fore. Switching horns, Bradfield wields the soprano sax with gusto on “Silent Observer”, having just drums as accompaniment. Later on, the piece uncovers its fusion flavor in a cocktail of Latin strut, post-bop enthusiasm, and a fast-paced swinging underpinning.

“Weeks and Weeks” is a dedication to bassist Willie Weeks, who worked with R&B singer Donny Hathaway. The latter’s influence is clear here, a vivid soul-pop delight with a magnetic beat underneath. The album concludes with the breezy title track, which revels in a scintillating bass solo, glistening guitar with confluent melody and chords, and taut exchanges between the saxophone players, who do justice to the album’s title. With Sommers in command of the operations, the collective's efforts yielded favorable results.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Also Tomorrow ► 02 - James Marshall ► 05 - Ancient Voices

Dan Cray: piano; Dayna Stephens: tenor saxophone; Clark Sommers: bass; Mark Ferber: drums.

Outside In is the title of the sixth album by the pianist/composer Dan Cray, his second recorded in quartet.
Regarding the lineup, and in comparison to Cray's previous work, Meridies, the saxophonist Noah Preminger was replaced by Dayna Stephens, while the drummer Mark Ferber and his longtime bassist Clark Sommers keep laying down the foundation.
Favoring a laid-back posture and a liberating spiritual freedom, the recording comprises seven frictionless tunes, which have the power of grabbing us emotionally.

More than just deliver a gentle spirituality, “Small Sir” works as a natural medium for the pianist’s modal expansions and beautiful creativity. By the end, after sincerely felt improvisations by Cray and Sommers, Stephens lets his voice out for the final turnaround, peppered by Ferber’s stalwart drumming.
“Where Springs” is an innocuous ballad that boasts a wonderful understanding between the bandleader and Stephens. They whether complement each other’s phrases or fill the available spaces with logic and wisdom.

Billy Strayhorn’s classic, “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing”, is an exceptional piece crafted with an exotic grace and escorted by a sophisticated bass pulse and cultivated drumming. Besides the latter, the album presents two more renditions: Bud Powell’s “Oblivion”, which starts as a rhythmically broken dance and then swings sturdily for Cray’s heartening solo, and the soft and tender “Where Are You”, a 1937 jazz standard composed by Jimmy McHugh.
Also captivating is “OdP (Bird of Paradise)”, a serene waltz whose melody, drawn by Stephen’s attractive language, is more plaintive than dreamy. In contrast, the title track accelerates slightly by adding some more pulse. It maintains a passionate feel, though.

Serenading the moon and the Earth, Cray frames velvety layouts resorting to reflective moods and a huge sense of unity with the members of his quartet.
The romanticism will be even greater if you listen to Outside In while drinking a good glass of red wine in the company of your loved one.

Favorite Tracks:
01 – Small Sir ► 03 – A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing ► 05 – OdP (Bird of Paradise)