Canadian bassist Dave Young has played with everyone from Oscar Peterson to Lenny Breau to, well, just about every prominent Canadian jazz musician since his recording debut with Moe Koffman back in 1969. On his latest album, Lotus Blossom, he’s built the music around his trio with guitarist Reg Schwager and drummer extradordinaire Terry Clarke, with guest appearances by pianists Renee Rosnes and Bernie Senensky on two tracks apiece, and, on one song, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte and tenor saxophonist Perry White. Billy Strayhorn’s timelessly beautiful Lotus Blossom starts the set, and immediately you feel like you’re in good hands. The nicely balanced program includes tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim (Modinha), Charlie Parker (Red Cross), Cedar Walton (Bolivia), and Dexter Gordon (Fried Bananas). They leave a pair of standards for the end. Bernie Senensky joins the trio for a eminently tasty stroll through the 1939 Van Heusen-Mercer song I Thought About You and the horns finally make their appearance on Romberg and Hammerstein’s Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise. Perhaps Turcotte and White were shown the arrangement as they walked into the studio, since neither man sounds entirely at home with the chart. In spite of the hesitancy in the front line, Young and Clarke save the day, bringing an end to a beautifully swinging date that will bring a smile to your face and set your toes a-tapping.
Modica Music; Kevin Turcotte (tpt on 7) Perry White (ts on 7) Renee Rosnes (1,2) or Bernie Senensky (5,6) (p) Reg Schwager (g) Dave Young (b) Terry Clarke (d); Toronto, ON, no dates specified; 1.Lotus Blossom/ 2.Modinha/ 3.Red Cross/ 4.Fried Bananas/ 5.Bolivia/ 6.I Thought About You/ 7.Softly As in a Morning Sunrise; 41:20. daveyoung.ca
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