I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spirit of 3, Spirit of 4, by Jon Menges and it's a set of solid straight up jazz. The title refers to the make up of musicians on the 2 different sets presented on the release. Opening with Anchor In The Path, Jon Menges plays a muted trumpet intro setting the theme. Pete McCann on guitar takes the melody expanding it with great finesse, supported by Evan Gregor on bass. Menges circles back on trumpet with a firm solo of his own, and Gregor on bass delivers a really nice bass solo giving the track a full plate. Very nice. Sweet swing in 3/4, Tree of Hope is smooth with a super bass line by Gregor and fluid trumpet lead by Menges and active rhythm guitar work by McCann. McCann takes the lead with warm chords and full bass lines by Gregor. On Coqui, Menges doubles up with Nathan Childers on tenor sax who plays a really nice improvised melody. Taking the lead back, Menges on trumpet gets a real nice bop going, backed by Joe Fitzgerald on bass (who also steps up for a nice solo) and Robert Weiss on drums. Fitzgerald on bass and Weiss on drums set a real nice groove and Menges slides right in with one of the best, melodic solos on the release. Childers follows with a strong tenor solo of his own really adding to the track and a hot bass lead by Fitzgerald brings the track up to the close. Wrapping the release is driving, Somethin' with Menges setting the pace. Childers on tenor hits it hard with a chunky solo of his own and Fitzgerald and Weiss each lay in just the right amount of spice to make this a tight closer.
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