The superb drummer Rudy Royston & his Flatbed Buggy ensemble are back with the thoroughly wonderful Day. An hour of original tunes, mostly by Royston, the work is meant to evoke the contours of a single day. The band offers the enchanting blend of bass clarinet (John Ellis), accordion (Gary Versace), cello (Hank Roberts), and bass (Joe Martin), with Royston’s deft and nuanced drumming at the core of the group’s sound. The combination of Ellis’ nimble bass clarinet, Roberts’ adroit cello, and Versace’s lively accordion gives this quintet a unique sound that captivates immediately. From the joyful opening on Morning through the rigors of the day and on to the unwinding of the evening in It’s Time to Sleep and Hank Roberts’ hypnotic A.M. Hours, the ensemble is distinctive, dynamic, and full of surprises. Royston has had a very busy career, appearing on well over 100 sessions since his recorded debut with saxophonist Fred Hess in December 1991. Also on that date was trumpeter Ron Miles, and the two shared many bandstands and recording dates over the years. Miles, passed away in 2022, and Royston touchingly dedicates this music to “my late brother Ritchie Royston and my late brother Ron Miles.” Royston has arranged the pieces in a way that tends to de-emphasize the solo contributions of his bandmates and instead stresses the entwined textures and myriad possibilities afforded by the instrumentation. The melancholy ballad Missing You is one highlight, with its sad melody carefully intoned by bass clarinet, accordion and cello. The pace is slow at first, gradually building to a controlled frenzy under solos by Ellis and Roberts until Royston brings things to a head, and the collective energy dissipates. The swinging Keep It Moving is another favorite, sparked by Royston’s exuberant drumming. There are echoes of gospel music, the blues, folk music of all kinds, and jazz in its many manifestations mixed up all together in Royston’s tunes, and it makes for a stirring brew. Heartily recommended.
Greenleaf Music GRE-CD-1100; John Ellis (bcl) Gary Versace (acc) Hank Roberts (clo) Joe Martin (b) Rudy Royston (d); Paramus, NJ, August 2022; Morning/ Thank You For This Day/ Limeni Village/ Look to the Hills/ The Mokes/ Five-Thirty Strut/ Missing You/ Keep It Moving/ It’s Time to Sleep/ A.M. Hours; 59:46. greenleafmusic.com
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