Mike Holober

Mike Holober's third CD for Sons of Sound gave him the opportunity to record a working band rather than one just assembled for the sessions. With saxophonist Tim Ries, guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade, the pianist was open to suggestions for each chart, making it more of a cooperative unit than a "leader plus sidemen" gig. One can feel the resulting energy in tense pieces like the leader's "Tulainyo," which showcases Ries on soprano sax along with Holober, or the playful call and response between Ries and Muthspiel in "Conundrum." The brisk vamp added to the Beatles' "Blackbird" adds a dark tinge that gives the pop favorite a new character. The standard "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" is also transformed with the incorporation of an ominous introduction by the rhythm section and a melancholy unison line for guitar and tenor sax. This is another rewarding date by a veteran jazz educator who deserves wider recognition. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi