Dedication

This San Francisco-based group co-led by trumpeter Peron and drummer Spangler is locked into the solid modern mainstream, and they play it to the hilt in the proud Blue Note/Riverside tradition. Peron's tone is exceptionally clean, bright, fresh, warm, and friendly. Spangler is simply an excellent timekeeper and sensitive improviser within the framework of his rhythms. Joe Gilman, an emerging young jazz pianist, is quite noticeable throughout, and bassist John Wiitala gets little due outside of California as being a fine player, which he clearly is. Tenor saxophonist Darius Babzadeh expands the band to a quintet for three tracks. He's coming out of the Michael Brecker mold as evident on the trumpet/tenor head of the Peron-penned "Junehead," with stop starts and Afro-Cuban spicing before a hard-swinging bridge. Gilman's 11-minute "Blue Sketches" for Miles Davis starts with moody piano and trumpet, merging to easy swing with "Lazy Afternoon" inferences, Gilman's excellent piano solo, and Babzadeh's distinct Brecker-isms. The light-stepping swinger of Peron's "The Barnster" is cool and memorable. Two other exceptional tracks included here with the straight quartet are the deep, modal piano arrangement from guest Jeff Chimenti on the classic ballad "Angel Eyes" and the spirited 6/8 waltz "One for Monterey," a truly fun tune. Peron's personal tone is most easily enjoyed on the standard though far from stock chart of the opener "Witchcraft," the ballad with Chimenti, "Laura," and "Lullabye for Natalie." Switching into a more mysterious, dark, under-the-surface mood is Peron's singing tone on "Rafael" for fellow trumpeter Rafael Mendez, using 6/8 bass in 4/4 meter, and Gilman is as great a pianist as any would need him to be. Though national and international audiences are not hip to the Peron-Spangler combine, they should be, and this recording goes a long way towards recognizing and exposing their immense talent. Highly and universally recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi