Compositionality

Some of you might remember Dan Heck as the talented guitarist in Seattle's Bebop And Destruction. Well, B&D went their separate ways (amiably), and Dan went the furthest; now he's based in Florida. However, on this CD he reacquaints with a couple of Seattle pals in Thomas Marriott on trumpet and Jose Martinez on drums. Rounding out the quintet are Stuart Shelton on piano and Rick Doll on bass. As the title suggests, the tunes are all Dan Heck originals, and the guys get underway with a medium tempo blues line called "One For Flo." The tempo and the intensity pick up considerably on Blade's "Groove" while "Stand Pat" has a nice down-home feeling. One can only wonder where the title "Tommy's Teeth" may have come from, but it has a spirited sense of swing to it. Dan's "Hit Tune" is a mellow trip with a lightly Latin flavor and a delightful vehicle for Marriott's trumpet. "Blue Stone" is another blues, but this time with a hint of gospel. Again, Marriott is relaxed and in total control on trumpet. These and others show off Dan Heck's very solid, center of the groove writing. To say nothing of his warm, always swinging guitar.