Chronos (Posi-Tone)
Mike DiRubbo
Chronos, from alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo, is a quintessentially Posi-Tone jazz CD that delivers high-level post-bop pleasures. DiRubbo’s a direct and passionate player who’s steeped in the power and modal prowess of icons such as John Coltrane and Kenny Garrett, as you can see from this clip:
On his new CD, DiRubbo leads a trio that includes the solid and soulful organist Brian Charette and the crisp and explosive drummer Rudy Royston through nine no-nonsense blowing vehicles of his own devising. The playing’s always committed and eloquent, and DiRubbo explores different moods within the post-bop box, from on the dark, sophisticated, Woody Shaw-style title track on one end to the loping, uplifting Excellent Taste to the more straightforward swingers Eight For Elvin and Lucky 13. The highlights come, in my opinion, when Royston pulls out the stops, which most notably happens on the disc’s brisk, punchy opener Minor Process, on More Physical, the simple but substantial disc-closer that features DiRubbo’s soprano saxophone, and on the taut groove tune Rituals.
