Album Review
To a certain extent, the music on trumpeter Elliott Caine's CD is reminiscent of Lee Morgan, Blue Note, and the hard bop/soul-jazz scene of the mid- to late '60s. But that said, the results are far from derivative. Caine uses a core sextet that includes tenor saxophonist Michael Rose, baritonist Peter Aplanalp, pianist Justin Reinhardt, Trevor Ware or Bill Markus on bass, and drummer Joel Alpers plus some guests to perform new hard bop originals, three Afro-Cuban jams, and a few tender ballads. Caine has an appealing sound and a relaxed style, taking his time as he gets his message across. In addition to the musicians already mentioned (most of whom are little-known but quite talented), various tracks have appearances by drummer-percussionist Willie McNeil, Ramon Banda on conga, tenors Chuck Manning and Justo Almario, organist Greg Kurstin, guitarist Anthony Wilson, and baritonist David Ralicke. The Afro-Cuban numbers are so strong that one wishes that the full set was in that idiom, but the more straight-ahead tunes are also well worth hearing. Fine music from the up-and-coming Los Angeles-based musicians.
