One of the most popular American jazz groups in Japan in the 1980s,
the Manhattan Jazz Quintet
was practically unknown as a collective in the U.S. Although the part-time band broke up in the late '80s, it came back together for a recorded reunion. On this CD, the group (which consists of pianist
David Matthews
, trumpeter
Lew Soloff
, tenor saxophonist
George Young
, bassist
Eddie Gomez
and drummer
Steve Gadd
) performs six standard blues plus
"Basin Street Blues."
Matthews'
fairly basic arrangements give fresh personalities to most of the songs, allowing one to forget the similar chord changes.
Soloff
takes a particularly brilliant solo on "Sweet Basil Blues,"
Young
is quite soulful on "St. Louis Blues" and the rhythm section is superb in support. A special bonus is guest
John Scofield's
distinctive guitar on three selections. Excellent modern mainstream music by some of the best. ~ Scott Yanow