Late August

Album Review

Bassist Gregg August wrote and arranged all of the music for Late August. His writing often makes the core septet sound like a big band. The arrangements are more advanced than hard bop while still mostly being swinging in their own fashion. The instrumentation changes from track to track, with August being showcased on the solo "Eulogy" and a duet with Chembo Corniel's congas on "Los Dos Cotos" while "Deceptions" features guests Frank Wess on tenor and guitarist John Hart. On most of the other selections, trumpeter John Bailey and tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin generally take solo honors, although all of the musicians are top-notch. Although it is doubtful that any of these new songs will be future standards, this is an impressive effort overall for August, a player and writer who deserves to be better known.