Night

I don't know if the use of the word Bridge in this group's name is a reference to Portland's numerous Willamette River crossings or, perhaps, a suggestion that this ismusic to reach out to anyone willing to listen. Perhaps both concepts might be fitting. Three quarters of this quartet are resident Portlanders: Darrell Grant, piano; Tom Wakeling, bass; and Alan Jones, drums. The fourth is tenor saxophonist Phil Dwyer, who makes frequent forays from his home base in Canada for the purpose of playing with his Puddletown pals. This engaging set was performed live at what was then called LV's Uptown. Kudos to Origin Records for putting this one out there because the six selections heard here average nearly twelve minutes per. The set concentrates on familiar tunes like "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "Green Dolphin Street." Rounding out the program are "Strode Road." a nearly standard by Sonny Rollins; and a rarely heard Victor Feldman piece, "A Face Like Yours." Dwyer can get a little edgy now and then, sometimes sounding like a tenor version of late Art Pepper. But for the most part, you can really hang your hat on an invigorating performance from a contemporary group somehow in the middle of the jazz highway.