By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Color Country
Trombonist/guitarist/percussionist
Kevin Stout and saxophonist/flutist Brian Booth love jazz and their home state
of Utah, in equal measure. They’re longtime friends and partners who’ve
released three previous albums, to rave reviews. Then followed a 10-year pause,
during which they often worked together in gigs throughout Utah.
And
now comes the release of Color Country.
Their
careers have spanned three decades. Stout worked with The Four Freshman for
almost a decade, and also has performed with Joe Piscopo, The Four Tops, Frank
Sinatra Jr. and Don Menza’s Big Band, as well his own groups. Booth, in turn, has
shared a stage with notables such as Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme and Ray
Charles, among others. Booth also has led his own groups in Utah and the
surrounding states.
This
new album celebrates the Southern Utah region that contains five National Parks
often visited by Stout and Booth. The 13 tracks, all of which they composed and
arranged, are named for points of interest with particular meaning to both of
them.
The
supporting musicians include pianist Joey Singer, bassist Tom Warrington,
drummer John Abraham and vocalist JoBelle Yonely.
All
but one of the tracks are done at mid- to up-tempos, using 4/4, 3/4, Latin,
fusion and straight-ahead meters. The exception is the ballad “Weeping Rock,”
which features Booth’s soprano sax, Stout’s guitar and trombone,
and Yonely (no words, just gorgeous vocal chords).
Every
track is great, but my favorite is “Petroglyphs,” which really rocks (pun
intended).
I’m
particularly impressed by the various instruments interface, during both the
ensemble and solo choruses; the arrangements are complex at times, but they
always swing. On top of which, the solos are truly excellent.
Plan on “all listening,
without much talking” when this album hits your rotation!
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