When I listen to Rob Garcia’s new album The Drop And The Ocean, the same adjectives come to me as they did for his prior album, Perennial, which are “seductive,” “lyrical,” “well-conceived,” “well-designed,” and Garcia’s drumming being “sensitive” and “delicate.” What I’d probably could add to that is Garcia’s drumming is at times (like on “River”) like Elvin Jones with a lighter touch. And on “Crash,” his feat of keeping time and soloing free form simultaneously is a marvel. But also like the previous outing, he’s got a great knack for writing bluesy, moody and sophisticated pieces — like “The Return” (live video below) — and his band is top notch: Noah Preminger (sax) and Dan Tepfer (piano) return, with Chris Lightcap replaced by the equally well regarded John Hebert on bass. Garcia often devises sharp, identifiable bass lines for Hebert and strong themes for Preminger and Tepfer that work as perfect counterpoints to Hebert and Garcia (“Will” and “Boundaries” being two of the best examples of that). In all, the Rob Garcia 4 continues rolling along with solid, team-oriented small combo jazz.
The Drop And The Ocean was released October 4 by Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records.
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‘Half Notes’ are quick-take thoughts on music from Something Else! Reviews, presented whenever the mood strikes us.
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