eJazzNews

Photographs or no photographs Starace swings magnificently. The quintet plays exquisitely and Tommaso Starace plays alto as it should be played. So, if the pictures of Erwiit are an inspiration then it serves the purpose to the maximum.

Keep Moving Please" is pure bop from the opening note. Starace is all over his horn. The ideas are splendid and the facility is out of sight. Roger Beaujolais on vibes adds his magic to the mix with a solo that goes right to the heart of hip.

"Tongue In Cheek" is an ode to the photo of soldiers marching route step at Fort Dix, N.J. in 1951. I happened to be in basic training at Dix in 53 and heard and played jazz while there. This is a tune done at racehorse tempo and Starace again shows complete control of his horn while maintaining a Parker like tone.

This ensemble has a quality that even the most able eared listener will enjoy. I heartily recommend it.

5 Stars