Hymn

Seattle bassist Jon Hamar utilizes a high-end sense of time, tone and taste to propel his drummerless trio on his solo disc Hymn. Pianist Geoffrey Keezer and alto saxophonist Todd DelGiudice contribute to this well-conceived collection of originals and jazz classics. Hamar pays homage to bass giants John Patitucci ("Blues for J.P.") and Ray Brown ("Comes Love"), yet the focus of the session is on the ensemble as a whole. The three interact with a mutual acceptance of ideas, taking cues from one another in a congenial fashion. Keezer's razor sharp instincts are evident on the uptempo mashup of "Giant Steps" and "It Could Happen to You," swinging fresh ideas with dominating conviction. Kudos to DelGiudice for not trying to imitate Johnny Hodges on "Isfahan." Instead, the saxophonist brings his own sense of style to the Billy Strayhorn classic. Hymn is an adventurous release; a traditional ride with modern twists and turns.