Blues Sky

Dave Hanson plays piano and Fender with his team of Mark Simon/b, Paul Romaine/dr and guest Wil Swindler/ts-as on this collection of bluesy originals. On piano, Hanson has that classic warm feel a la Kenny Barron, as he shifts gears on the post bopping "Arnhem" and is lyrically stately around Romaine's brushes during "As It Was And Is", niftily veering through Simon's bass lines on "Cross Steps" and boogalooing with him on "Dylan Dream". His keyboard work is relaxed around Swindler's alto sax on "Ambrosian" and soulful under the tenor tones of the title track. The acoustic quartet is upbeat on the bopping "Two Masters" and Monkish on the fun and frisky "Muse Walk". Cohesive and classy.