by Mike Corroto

David Ashkenazy, the Southern California drummer now living in New York, creates a memorable session by way of the compositions selected and his combination of players. By placing the talents of the habitually underrated saxophonist Joel Frahm and guitarist Gilad Hekselman, who garnered acclaim on drummer Ari Hoenig’s disc Bert’s Playground (Dreyfus, 2008), he focuses on solid playing and interesting tunes.

The presence of Gary Versace on organ bridges the old with the new. Lennon/McCartney’s “I Want You” is updated, creating a jazz track to be remembered as a burning blues. The drummer chose Frank Foster’s “Simone” and Jimmy McHugh’s “Too Young To Go Steady” as traditional pieces to stretch out with solos by himself and band-mates. Each track displays an infectious sense of swing and drive. Besides Wayne Shorter’s “Children Of The Night” and Bill Frisell’s “Strange Meeting,” he pens two tracks here, “Dadi-Yo” and “Zoology,” both crafty and artful tunes that flow in rapport with the others.