Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill

Origin Records is owned and run by a couple of drummers, and they have been putting out some very nice recordings, and here's another to add to the list. Rodney Whitaker is a world-renowned bassist, arranger, and professor of
jazz studies. Gregg Hill is an under-recognized composer. Together they have put out three wonderful records, and this is number four. In Chicago, every musician knows Chicago drummer Dana Hall. He is doing the drumming this time around, and he is hooking up very well with Whitaker's bass playing, framing Hill's music with perfection, and providing a spark to inspire the ensemble of trumpeter Terell Stafford, saxophonist Tim Warfield, and vocalist Rockelle Whitaker (on four songs.) Hear Hall turn up the heat on the out-chorus of "Unknown Ballad." On "Moonscape" and "Ray Dias" Hall frames the tune to perfection. Hall makes "Sloe Gin Fizz" his own, listen to how he drives the soloists, and pay attention to the trading at the end The unique lope of "Sunday Special" is a tricky endeavor, but pianist Rick Roe and Hall just slay it. This is a very good recording featuring an explosive jazz drummer that needs more attention outside of Chicago.