Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill

This is about the fourth album that has come across my ears focusing on the composing strengths of Gregg Hill. You know a guy has a lyrical style when almost half of the songs feature lyrics themselves, mostly brought on by vocalist Rockelle Whitaker. The remaining team of Tim Warfield/ts-ss, Rick Roe/p, Terell Stafford/tp-fh and Dana Hall/dr do wonders with these fresh formations. Warfield's soprano gives an earthy Yusef Lateef feel to the Afro Cuban bopper "Katie's Tune" while his tenor blows smoke rings around Whitaker's finger strolls on the grooving "Sloe Gin Fizz". Ms. Whitaker is luminous as all get out as she looks velvety around the sweet soprano on "Stargazer" while she gets husky toned on a soulful "Moonscape" around Hill's obstacle course of pulses. The gloriously toned Stafford glistens over Hall's mallets on "Mosaic" and digs in with Warfield's husky tenor on the loose as a goose "Claxilever". A mosaic that has all the pieces fitting well, looking closely or from a distance.