Blues Sky

Good looking cover artwork for a change - so many albums (just take a peek in the direction of Bandcamp and you'll see what I mean) look like a dog's dinner. Not this. And the sound matches the quality look.

Recorded in a Denver studio last year newly out from US pianist Dave Hanson and his small combo fronted by sax it's an album of the pianist's originals dedicated scattergun fashion to a range of icons from Chick Corea and Bill Evans to Bob Dylan.

Drummer Paul Romaine provides a lively energy in the opener 'Two Masters' and his Jack DeJohnette-like style in places is a strong factor in the level of engagement that the sound provokes.

Gritty saxist Wil Swindler reminds me of Bob Berg a little bit - remember the much-missed saxist who was on Miles Davis 80s album You're Under Arrest.

As for Hanson think Bruce Barth a bit as a kindred spirit. Neat, melodious "modern jazz" tunes there's a lot of skill here and Hanson is good at drawing out unexpected tristesse and little wrinkles of gear shifts often involving crucial bass contributions (from Mark Simon) as on 'Arnhem'. But I'm less keen on the bits with Fender Rhodes which awkwardly happens to include the title track.