Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Graham Dechter: Major Influence

Graham Dechter: Major Influence

By Dan Bilawsky
September 26, 2021
View read count

What do you get when you combine a million-dollar feel, sterling technique, clear-eared chording, warm and sophisticated single-note lines and impeccable taste? Graham Dechter, of course. As a longtime member of The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and first-call sideman for the West Coast elite, Dechter has earned his place on the scene. And with his first two albums—Right On Time (Capri, 2009) and Takin' It There (Capri, 2012)—he made an extremely convincing case out front. Not surprisingly, this third date merely ups the attraction factor surrounding his work.

Merging a sea of inspirations into a sound all his own, Dechter delivers a program focused on originals that's high in charm. And with his Clayton-Hamilton rhythm mates by his side again, all is right as things roll along. Opening on the blues-based "Orange Coals," Dechter, pianist

Tamir Hendelman

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tamir Hendelman, bassist

John Clayton

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">John Clayton and drummer

Jeff Hamilton

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton swing right out of the gate. "Reference," ripe with sly riffs in the margins and strong solo work at the core, offers a different kind of heat, and the arresting "Major Influence" counters with a moonlit cool. By the time Dechter and company finish up the first half of the album with "Moonithology," a light-touch swinger influenced by everybody from saxophonist

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker to pianist George Shearing to electro art-pop duo KNOWER, they've already made a strong and permanent impression.

While Dechter's playing bears the hallmarks of jazz giants like

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery,

Herb Ellis

guitar
1921 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Herb Ellis,

Barney Kessel

guitar, electric
1923 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Barney Kessel and

Grant Green

guitar
1935 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Grant Green, he's artfully integrated those influences, and plenty of others beyond his own instrument, in creating his own signature as both a performer and composer. That's apparent on the aforementioned original material and equally clear on the back half of the program where the quartet delivers a Jazz Messengers-worthy shuffle in the form of "Minor Influence," drops a lone cover in the form of a dreamy and capacious "Pure Imagination," nods to the High Priest of Bop on "Bent on Monk" and rockets away with precision and fire on "Billy's Dilemma." A sum of his influences yet a step removed as his own man, Graham Dechter is the real dynamic deal.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Orange Coals; Reference; Major Influence; Moonithology; Minor Influence; Pure Imagination; Bent on Monk; Billy's Dilemma.

Personnel

Graham Dechter

guitar

Tamir Hendelman

piano

John Clayton

bass

Jeff Hamilton

drums

Album information

Title: Major Influence | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Capri Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

All Set
< Previous

Herbie Hancock, Hilary Kole & Dave M...
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.