On his fourth
Criss Cross
release, organist
Melvin Rhyne
is joined by trumpeter
Ryan Kisor
, tenor saxophonist
Eric Alexander
, guitarist
Peter Bernstein
, and drummer
Kenny Washington
to perform six
Rhyne
originals, two
jazz
classics, and one
standard
, the beautiful
ballad
"Laura,"
a feature for
Alexander
's tenor sax. Best known for a stint with
Wes Montgomery
during the late '50s and early '60s,
displays an understated but distinctive organ sound and strong basslines, complementing the youthful energy that
Kisor
and
bring to the session.
Bernstein
Washington
are veterans of
's other three
releases, two of them by the trio, resulting in what could be a great working group. Other favorites include
"J. Robin,"
a medium swinger that alternates between
funk
Latin
feels in the head,
"Captain McDuff,"
a medium shuffle written in tribute to fellow organist
Jack McDuff
,
Bud Powell
's aptly titled
"Wail"
(taken at a blazing tempo), and the relaxed groove of
"It's Love."
This is a welcome addition to
's growing discography. ~ Greg Turner