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Resonance is the recording debut as a leader of drummer Dave Rudolph, who is based in Tampa, Florida. Inspired by his close friend Jessica Hiltabidle, who passed away recently, the valuable sideman realized that he was long overdue to record his own music.
Rudolph utilizes four top local musicians for his project: tenor-saxophonist Zach Bornheimer, guitarist LaRue Nickelson, pianist Pablo Arencibia and bassist Alejandro Arenas. The quintet performs nine of the drummer’s originals with the influences of Kenny Wheeler, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, and Bill Frisell being felt in various spots.
A wide range of moods are covered during the colorful post-bop jazz set. The opening “Atonement” introduces the group’s appealing sound and has fine solos from Nickelson and Arencibia. “Those Clumsy Words” is a melodic jazz waltz that includes some creative drum breaks by Rudolph over the closing vamp. The wistful folk song “Lonely Train” is followed by “The Vine,” one of several numbers that have two musicians playing off of each other, in this case putting the focus on the leader and pianist Arecibia.
The other pieces include the Thelonious Monk-inspired swinger “Bounce,” the brooding ballad “Resonance” (which has guest singer Whitney James blending with guitarist Nickelson), the New Orleans-flavored “Night Squirrel,” the Bill Evans-inspired ballad “Whimsy,” and an improvised dialogue between the drummer and saxophonist Bornheimer, “Brushstrokes.”
Throughout Resonance, the subtle creativity and fresh material make this a memorable effort well worth discovering.
Scott Yanow
CD Available From: https://daverudolph.bandcamp.com/album/resonance
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