CD Review: CINQUE - Catch A Corner.

Year: 2011

Style: Jazz-Funk

Label: ALMA Records

Musicians: Joey DeFrancesco - B3 Organ; Steve Gadd - Drums; Peter Cardinali - Bass; Robi Botos - Piano/Fender Rhodes; John Johnson - Saxes

CINQUE - Catch A Corner

CD Review: Joey DeFrancesco is the type of musician that brings instant excitement to his music. He is generally regarded as the premier living player on the B3 organ. Taking this into consideration with the announcement of a "debut" album from a group of equally heavyweight musicians calling themselves "Cinque," in which he lends a luxuriant hand, or in this case two, means one thing;  a superbly swinging album; and CINQUE - Catch A Corner, does not disappoint.

ALMA Records head, Peter Cardinali on bass, and saxophonist John Johnson, straight from an exquisitely tasteful collaboration on 5 After 4's 2011 CD "Rome In a Day," bring considerable talent and depth of experience to the date. Speaking of experience, drummer Steve Gadd and pianist Robi Botos complete the rhythm section with the quintessence of legends. Gadd has been the percussionist of choice for stars like James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Chick Corea, and Paul Simon, while Botos has recorded and performed with a variety of top artists from Chaka Khan and Molly Johnson to James Blood Ulmer. Cinque is truly a musical dream team.

B3 Organist Joey DeFrancesco

An instantly recognizable feature of this quintet is its free-flowing, irresistible warmth. The smooth, faultless playing of saxophonist John Johnson creates the kind of relaxed energy that is perfect for the funky, unhurried groove (Conflicting Advice) that DeFrancesco deploys with the B3 throughout the CD. Johnson shows agile playing wit with another incarnation of Sonny Rollins' "Sonnymoon For Two" to outfit (Geppetto's Blues) with a gritty elegance, that enables DeFrancesco and Gadd to team up and add brawny breadth, depth and swing to the tune.

Freshness is another prominent characteristic of "Catch A Corner." Of the eight tunes on the CD, six are originals written conjointly in the studio, and recorded spontaneously "Off the floor," most certainly casting the outcome in the glow of excited anticipation; establishing an intuitive chain linking creativity and spontaneity directly to the heart of this free-flowing music. A keen listener might also recognize the true artistically democratic form of communication that extends into the space which each player utilizes to "speak his piece" without being encroached upon (Saturday Night, Sunday Morning); producing, in the interim, a soulful, perfectly stitched, effulgent musical broadcloth.

Drummer Steve Gadd

Those perfect hours of peaceful creativity and innovative thought-composition are reflected in the soothing sounds and tonal beauty emanating from horns and organ (Two Worlds). It speaks of no cares, or worries, no warts or bruises; only spirituality; a deep mutual respect between talented artists who understand and love the magic of making good music.

Guitars and organs are made for each in jazz music. In the right hands they can produce that rock-steady rhythmic effect that resonates deep within the listener. On the title track (Catch A Corner), Robi Botos gets that funky guitar sound out of his fender rhodes and imaginatively combines its riffs with DeFrancesco's swinging organ phrases to produce the running colors of a sparkling rainbow of rhythm. There is no doubt about the instrumental dexterity and depth of talent of these players, yet what makes this CD stand on it own, is the level of 'cool articulation' and unselfish use of playing space (Over The Humpty Dumpty) that preclude the overwhelming effect of super star egos taking root.

Pianist Robi Botos

Steve Gadd gets to give Cedar Walton's "Bolivia" blazing percussive propulsion and to renew his bona fides as "the first call" drummer for the stars while Cardinali's deep melodic bass is pulled into the vacuum of his forceful slip stream like a racing car at Indy.

To end the date, Cinque pours all its remaining, soul, funk and gospel into a deeply spiritual rendition of the Paul Simon hit "Still Crazy After All These Years." Putting it all together, catching a special intimate corner for five superb artists to hang out with "head, fingers and heart." (Peter Cardinali), and coming up with a CD of stunning enchantment. 

Track Listing: Conflicting Advice; Geppetto's Blues; Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; Two Worlds; Catch A Corner; Over The Humpty Dumpty; Bolivia; Still Crazy After All These Years.

Recorded and mixed by John "Beetle" Bailey at The Drive Shed, Toronto
Additional recording by Clarke Rigsby
Assisted by Mat Pataki, Taylor Kernohan
Digital editing Taylor Kernohan
Mastered by Trevor Sadler at Mastermind Productions

Produced by Peter Cardinali