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Cinque: Catch A Corner

By Dave Wayne
August 1, 2012
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With legendary drummer

Steve Gadd

drums
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Gadd and organist

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco in the lineup, and a clutch of Canada's top session men rounding out the personnel on Catch A Corner, Cinque gives a tip of the hat to the CTI label and its particular style of relaxed—but not smooth—jazz-funk. Olivia Cardinali's vivid cover photograph seems reminiscent of

Pete Turner

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Turner's work for Creed Taylor's '70s-era label. Memories of pianists

Bob James

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob James and

Richard Tee

keyboards
1943 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Tee are effortlessly conjured by the dual keyboard work of

Robi Botos

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Robi Botos on Fender Rhodes and DeFrancesco on Hammond B-3.

Gadd, whose versatile swing/funk drumming was featured on dozens of jazz and funk recordings throughout the '70s, is right at home here. He hasn't lost a thing over the last few decades—he's as sharp and as inventive as ever. Botos has the mellow soul-jazz thing down pat, and demonstrates how it's done on "Conflicting Advice," the CD's slinky, urbane opener. Saxophonist

John Johnson

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">John Johnson, a first-call session man in the Toronto studios, has a big warm tenor sound reminiscent of

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Houston Person and

Stanley Turrentine

saxophone, tenor
1934 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Turrentine, and his overdubbed horn section on "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" sounds like something from one of Gadd's old Stuff records with Richard Tee and

Cornell Dupree

guitar, electric
1942 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Cornell Dupree.

The feel on Catch A Corner is super-tight, yet really spontaneous. DeFrancesco, a flashy and energetic soloist who, at first glance, doesn't really fit the laidback jazz-funk mold, might seem to be the odd man out here. However, the band's repertoire—assembled on-the-spot during the recording session—includes a number of pieces suited to DeFrancesco's hyperactive

Jimmy Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1925 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Smith-inspired style. These tunes hearken back to the early- to mid-1960s, the heyday of the Hammond B-3 combos led by players such as Smith,

Jack McDuff

organ, Hammond B3
1926 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack McDuff and

Jimmy McGriff

organ, Hammond B3
1936 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy McGriff. DeFrancesco really lights up "Gepetto's Blues," a hot serving of basic grits 'n gravy blues, and comes barreling out of the gate with some big thrills on "Over The Humpty Dump," a hard-charging jazz waltz. DeFrancesco also proves to be a consummate team player, providing, for example, an endless array of slick and swinging fills behind Botos and Johnson on the gospel- drenched second half of "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning." Botos' Rhodes work here also makes a particularly good impression—he's a true soul-jazz keyboardist in the vein of

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver and

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton.

The appeal of Catch A Corner lies in the abilities of these five musicians to find a freshness in some very basic and familiar- sounding material. They are hugely successful in that regard; the playing here is excellent and inspired throughout. While some of the music may be a bit too mellow and easygoing for some, those who enjoy slinky '70s jazz-funk and '60s organ jazz will find Catch A Corner a veritable treasure trove.

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Track Listing

Conflicting Advice; Geppetto's Blues; Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; Two Worlds; Catch a Corner; Over the Humpty Dump; Bolivia; Still Crazy After All These Years.

Personnel

Cinque

Steve Gadd: drums; Peter Cardinali: bass, horn arrangements; Joey DeFrancesco: Hammond B3 organ; Robi Botos: piano, Fender Rhodes; John Johnson: saxophones.

Album information

Title: Catch A Corner | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Alma Records

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