This is a particularly strong and well-planned set. The original compositions heard in bassist
Kieran Overs's bop-based Unity CD often have strong melodies and fresh chord changes. The first four selections (highlighted by the opening blues "Mr. B.G." and the ballad "3/4 Nancy") feature a quintet with the bassist/leader, trumpeter
Kevin Turcotte, the light Tranish tenor of
Kirk MacDonald, pianist
Brian Dickinson and drummer
Bob McLaren,
Bill Evans's sensitive "Re: Person I Knew" has
Overs and Dickinson in a trio with guitarist
Ted Quinlan, "Shape Shift" adds
Quinlan to the original quintet and the final three numbers (a couple of picturesque originals along with
Harold Mabern's hard-driving "There but for the Grace Of...") feature
Turcotte,
MacDonald,
Dickinson,
Overs, drummer
Jerry Fuller and the reeds of
Alex Dean and
Pat LaBarbera. From start to finish, the highly recommended
Shape Shift keeps up the momentum and tells a full story through its thoughtful improvisations and logical ensembles.