Drummer
N. Glenn Davis has been a fixture in his hometown of Cleveland, OH for some time since completing studies at Berklee School of Music; he studied there with
Alan Dawson, among others. But the veteran musician is also a gifted composer, penning all but one of the songs for his debut CD as a leader, accompanied by some of his favorite local musicians: pianist
Larry Porter, alto saxophonist Dave Sterner, and bassist Dallas Coffey. The very upbeat "The Happy People" serves as a solid opener. The breezy, Latin-flavored "Distant Celebration" and the infectious samba "Bright Roads" showcase Sterner's impressive chops on soprano sax. The drummer introduces his potent hard bop vehicle "Sliding" with a short solo, then
Porter's engaging piano takes over in this driving anthem. The pianist wrote the elegant ballad "Eadie Is a Lady" (which he dedicated to his mother, who passed away before it was recorded), this richly textured performance was completed in a single take. It's apparent that the players are well-versed with one another and eager to get their quartet better known outside their city, so
A Different View is definitely worth a look (and listen). ~ Ken Dryden