feature photo: Rudy Royston
A stalwart at Posi-Tone Records almost since its inception in the mid 90s, pianist and composer David Ake has come to embody what that label represents, which is a modern-day continuation of quality hard bop and modern acoustic jazz emblematic of Blue Note Records’ 60s heyday. Despite making records for twenty-five years, Ake doesn’t do so often as he’s also a scholar and author, but the time he takes between albums pays off in the thoughtfulness and execution that goes into penning the songs and performing them with the finest sidemen.
A lot has happened in this world since Ake’s last album Humanities (2018) but predictably, the quality of Ake’s work remains intact. Ake employs an entirely different personnel group for Green Thumb but it’s a list of first-call names that’s no less impressive: Tony Malaby on tenor sax, Boris Kozlov on standup bass and Rudy Royston on drums.
It’s hard to listen to “Good Afternoon” and not think of the just-departed Wayne Shorter, as Ake’s composing style shares a lot of the soulfully pensive qualities, a notion bolstered by Malaby’s sultry tenor. “Green Thumb” makes me think of the color blue, i.e., the blues. Introduced ably by Kozlov, Malaby and Ake play at a relaxed pace in sharp contrast to Royston’s restless drums.
Obviously dedicated to the late, great folk troubadour, “John Prine” is spun with a simple but timeless Americana melody that perhaps could have been conjured by Prine himself but Ake’s delicate piano brings a poignancy of its own. Kozlov serves as the foil in this instance, as Malaby sits out.
“Stu’s News” is a bop excursion with a sax/piano unison head that snaps, bookending churning solos from Ake and Malaby. The band takes a respite from tempo for “Walker Evans,” with Kozlov setting the pensive tone with his arco bass. The interplay between Malaby and Ake on the latter’s gracious, flowing melody is divine.
“Kendee” is a fairly brief rumination from Ake alone on piano, putting his thoughtful approach front and center, while Royston practically plays lead alongside Malaby and Ake on the rambunctious “Street Food.”
Ake adopted differing approaches for the two standards that he tackled. The melody of “All The Things You Are” is danced around for most of the performance as Ake explores the harmonic offshoots from it. “But Beautiful” is much more straightforward, a showcase for Malaby and his deeply soulful saxophone expressions.
David Ake continues to make his infrequent releases count. Green Thumb is plenty good enough the savor until Mr. Ake is ready to make another quality collection of modern and mainstream jazz.
Green Thumb drops on March 17 2023, from Posi-Tone Records.
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