WILL BERNARD – OUT AND ABOUT

A mighty impressive set from guitarist Will Bernard – our hands down favorite of his work as a leader to to date – and an all originals session with a remarkable stylistic range! Our ears perked up from the opening seconds, thanks to the elegant take on jazz funk of the opener “Happy Belated” – which has this perfect balance of insistent groove and spontaneous energy – facets that hold true throughout! As stated, there’s a stylistic breadth here that keeps the vibe fresh from track-to-track – it’s not all funk-steeped – with some laidback and melodic moments, along with faster, more energetic material. Each player has ample space to shine, including the excellent Brian Charette on organ, John Ellis on sax, Ben Allison on bass, and Allison Miller on drums. Titles include “Not Too Fancy”, “Next Guest”, “Habenera”, “Homeward Bound”, “Suggested Reading”, “Full Sweep”, “Out And About”, “Redwood (Business Casual)”, “Homebody” and “Pan Seared”. ~ Dusty Groove