John Stein's recording pace has picked up considerably since his association with the Whaling City Sound label. These studio sessions from mid-2009 reunite him with the group on his previous CD,
Encounterpoint, including pianist Koichi Sato, drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario, and bassist John Lockwood. While this is not a regularly working quartet, as each musician has other commitments,
Stein booked a few live dates to woodshed on-stage prior to going into the studio, always a good plan. Most of the fare will be familiar to jazz fans, starting off with a breezy setting of
Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream," while
Bobby Timmons' "Moanin'" gets a new look with Nazario's shuffling rhythm on brushes and an overall funky flavor not usually present, plus use of Fender Rhodes, which proves less percussive than in most recordings. Sato's shimmering introduction is a refreshing way to open
Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born," while the bittersweet "Beautiful Love" changes direction with
Stein's intricate guitar.
Stein also penned two valuable originals, the intricate post-bop vehicle "Elvin!" and the lighthearted "Wild Woods." Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden