Compelling original big band jazz One O’Clock Lab Band – LAB 2018/THE RHYTHM OF THE ROAD: When I had the privilege of reviewing this great big band’s Lab 2017, they got very high marks from me, and on this new (September, 2018) release (no samples yet, I’ll come back and add them when I’m told the album’s gone HOT), they continue their years-long tradition of creating & playing the most stimulating jazz… as you listen to the high-powered opener, “Hey, It’s Me You’re Talkin’ To”, you’ll realize that their energy is palpable… as an added bonus, here’s a live performance of their performance of this song…
…be sure you join their YouTube channel, so you can watch all of their exciting performances through the years…
If your ears are thirsting for a bit o’ blues, you’re going to just LOVE “Blues for Kazu”, written for trumpeter Kazunuri Tanaka, is one of the tastiest blues tunes I’ve heard (yet) in 2018… full-bodied jazz that really gets you in a bluesy mood.
Marion Powers vocal on “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” is flawless, and the recording quality is beyond compare; not just on this superb performance, but on all the tracks.
There was no doubt in my mind that my choice for personal favorite of the nine (long) songs offered up is Alan Baylock’s stunning 7:41 “Without A Doubt”… complex and ambitious, but OOLB executes it with true talent and precision.
I give these folks a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99. Get more information on the One O’Clock Lab Band page. Rotcod Zzaj
