Tom Kennedy, Just Play!

There are times, if you are like me, when you enjoy kicking back, forgetting for a moment what the "latest" new thing is, what is on the cutting-edge and just dig on some very grooving music. In the hard bop realm that is what you get on bassist Tom Kennedy's Just Play! (Capri 74122-2),

It's Kennedy walking and soloing with real force and soul, joined together with some swinging companions who can let loose and do. It's Tom with a formidable cast of Dave Weckl on drums, Renee Rosnes, piano, George Garzone on tenor, Mike Stern on guitar, Tim Hagens, trumpet, Lee Ritenour, guitar, John Allred, trombone, and Steve Wirts on tenor. You'll no doubt recognize most if not all of these names if you are into the contemporary jazz scene.

What this is about is one Mike Stern original and otherwise jazz classics done with lots of chutzpah. "Airegin", "In A Sentimental Mood", "In Your Own Sweet Way", things that still sound great when you play them well and then the solos kick off! When the big gathering of horns go at it the arrangements for them are right.

In short this is one you put on and dig into. It's primo hard-bopping done with things that came after taken in with the air. That's what the mainstream of today, if it has that thing, is all about.

So get this and you'll get right in there.