The Parts You Keep

Bassist Mike Pope brings in a muscular and tasteful team of Geoffrey Keezer/p-k, Nate Smith/dr, Roxy Coss/ts-ss, Randy Brecker/tp-fh, Amaury Cabral/g, Ann Almond Pope/p and a guest string quartet for a swinging yet lyrical mix of standards, originals and even some classical. Of the latter, Pope lights the candles for the glistening title tune while going Old World rich on "Spharenmusik". Keezer taps into his inner Herbie Hancock as he gets symbiotic with Pope on the post bopping "Misgivings" while digging in on the groover "Dashan's Flying Ubercar". Coss coos around Pope on "That Old Feeling" and Brecker is funky on "Barolo Blue" with Smith's cymbals sizzling on "Past Is Prologue". If this team tours around, don't miss it; not a weak link in the chain.