The Parts You Keep

The bassist, composer and engineer Mike Pope has enjoyed a 30+ year career, and here we're treated to originals and covers with an excellent band plus strings.

"Misgivings" opens the 9 track listen with Geoffrey Keezer's firm keys that suit Pope's playful bass and Nate Smith's fluid drums, and "Steeplechase" follows with Roxy Cross' animated sax prowess adding much to the frisky energy of the Charlie Parker tune.

Entering the middle, "That Old Feeling" benefits from Randy Brecker's soulful trumpet and Peter Kibbe's elegant violoncello via the intimate climate, while "Barolo Blue" showcases Amaury Cabral's meticulous guitar playing amid the precise jazz ideas.

Landing near the end, "Past Is Prologue" allows for Yu-Ting Wu and Jennifer Houck's violin's to shine in a very animated and textured album highlight, and "Sphärenmusik from Winterreigen, Opus 13 No. 5" exits with Pope's grandmother, Ann Almond Pope, handling classical piano which emits much elegance.

An unpredictable and timeless record, Pope and company bring plenty of sophistication and intricate synergy to a vision of jazz that we could never tire of.