Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lucas Apostoleris: It's Been Good

Lucas Apostoleris: It's Been Good

By Edward Blanco
March 22, 2025
View read count

Producing his third album as leader, Miami-based drummer Lucas Apostoleris delivers an engaging musical statement with the modern and contemporary jazz music of It's Been Good. On an album of all original compositions from the leader, Apostoleris demonstrates his abundant talents as a writer, providing creative and exciting musical moments throughout the session. This musician just happens to be a much-in-demand drummer in the Miami jazz scene, one of the players to go to when you need an exceptional drummer for exceptional artists such as

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman,

Troy Roberts

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Troy Roberts,

Martin Bejerano

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Martin Bejerano,

Russ Spiegel

guitar
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Russ Spiegel and many others, who have all drawn on his talents for their performances. As well as being a band leader, the renowned drummer broadens his musical background by continuing to perform as a session player with a variety of ensembles in the South Florida area.

For this project, Apostoleris reunites with the quartet that performed on his second album, The Path Forward (Self Produces, 2022), which included saxophonist

David Mason

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">David Mason, pianist

Connor Rohrer

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Connor Rohrer and bassist

Mike Ramos

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Ramos—all fellow graduates from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Mason and Rohrer also serve as full-time members of jazz vocalist

Samara Joy

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Samara Joy's band. The plain fact that the leader's quartet has been together performing—with two albums to their credit—is evidence of the band's cohesiveness as a group, which explains quite convincingly why their sound on this session is so superb.

The title track opens up the music, making an immediate impression and setting the stage for what is in store, with an eight-minute lively groove, highlighting every player on spirited solos. "Four Chord Song," which follows, contains much of the same texture and is just as appealing as the opener. The third track, "And I know That You Care," is a slight departure that features a more relaxing mellow melody, offering a light balladic break from the two previous tunes as Ramos delivers soft bass lines and the band tempers their sound—for only a bit.

The upbeat tempo of "Forgive to Forget" brings the group back to the way this set began. by laying down more hard boppish grooves, which seem to define the music of the album in a certain modern and contemporary style that is quite fitting. Mason opens the music on the intricate "Antithetical Amalgamations," a turbulent and in-your-face number conveying a strong message in which Apostoleris is, once again, showcased with several powerful solos—perhaps pounding the drums into submission? Whatever the reason, it is terrific just the same. The leader is just as pronounced on the last two pieces ("To Fall in Again," and "Of Three or Maybe Four") closing out the session in powerful fashion.

Apostoleris makes a strong case for consideration as a rising star with It's Been Good, an appropriate title for documenting his talents as a composer and his chops on the drums, as well as expressing the obvious satisfaction with how this musical excursion has turned out; that it has actually been quite good.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

It's Been Good; Four Chord Song; And I Know That You Care Too; Forgive To Forget; Antithetical Amalgamations; To Fall In Again; Of Three Or Maybe Four.

Personnel

Lucas Apostoleris

drums

David E. Mason

saxophone, alto

Connor Rohrer

piano

Mike Ramos

bass

Album information

Title: It's Been Good | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

C��cile McLorin Salvant at Sala degl...
< Previous

The Jazz Sides of the Nat Cole Trio,...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.