Best known at this point for his association with
the Matt Wilson Quartet,
Joel Frahm is a talented, hard bop-based soloist. On his debut CD, he is joined by drummer
Wilson, pianist
David Berkman, and bassist Doug Weiss for four of his originals (one by
Berkman and three veteran standards). Included among the songs are nods to
Wayne Shorter ("100 Years in Motion"),
Ornette Coleman/
Dewey Redman (
Berkman's "Interesting Perhaps, But Hardly Fascinating Rhythm"), and
Sonny Rollins (a good-humored pianoless trio rendition of "Pennies from Heaven"). The music is mostly straight-ahead with a few surprising twists; an impressive start to
Frahm's solo career. ~ Scott Yanow