by Mark Corroto
Easily mistaken for a Blue Note session of the 1960s (and that’s just fine), the latest by trombonist David Gibson delivers a solid buoyant session of burners. Except for the classic “April In Paris,” all the music was written by the trombonist or a a band member. The presence of organist Jared Gold ramps up the energy considerably. His sound competes with each other instrument for space, forcing that macho bebop favored by trombonist Curtis Fuller, drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter Lee Morgan.

Gibson is not adverse to the muscular attack. He and alto saxophonist Julius Tolentino manage a front line that sounds as if there were double the two horns heard. Perhaps it is their choice of this more audacious bebop that fuels the recording. They certainly go for popular attention with the funky “Hot Sauce,” which comes straight out of saxophonist Tom Scott’s bag of the late 1970s and jam-sound of “In The Loop.” But mostly this record is about solid swing and small group dynamics, all captured with a burning intensity.