Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Whitman: Ode To Joe

David Whitman: Ode To Joe

By Jack Bowers
October 10, 2023
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While West Coast drummer

David Whitman

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">David Whitman's Ode to Joe [Henderson] is a rather brief one at less than thirty-three minutes, it is otherwise admirable for what is enclosed within its concise parameters. Whitman leads a well-schooled septet whose makeup is freshened by rotating tenor saxophonists

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor
b.1952

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

Rob Lockart

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Lockart and guitarists

Bruce Forman

guitar
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Bruce Forman and

Chris Montgomery

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Montgomery.

Whitman and trumpeter

Andrew Neesley

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Neesley share composer credits, and Neesley handles the arrangements, awakening warm memories of the Golden Age of Blue Note, Prestige and Verve Records well over half a century ago, a time in which

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson and other jazz giants redefined the genre and enriched its vocabulary. Hard-edged swing takes center stage on every number save the last, "With Love," a handsome ballad by Whitman and the only tune on which he replaces his sticks with brushes, underlining earnest solos by Sheppard, Montgomery and pianist

Geoffrey Keezer

keyboards
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Geoffrey Keezer.

Elsewhere, as noted, the ensemble sprints and shouts, starting with the lively and tasteful "Time Out" (with solos to match by Forman, Sheppard and Keezer). "Bop This," another bow to jazz's storied heyday, swings smartly along behind ardent solos by Keezer, Forman, Lockart, Neesley (muted) and trombonist

Ryan Dragon

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Dragon. Whitman solos here, as elsewhere, but none of his solos is noted. "Home," in this case, simply has to be New Orleans, as no groove or temper, no matter how well-meant, can measure up to that of the Crescent City. As an aside, the melody on "Home" has more than a passing resemblance to the nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice." Solos are by Dragon, Neesley and Keezer.

Sheppard is showcased on "Ode to Joe," yet another fiery flag-waver, as is Neesley's stalwart "Nees Plees," a fast-paced salute to saxophonist

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson whose nimble solos are delivered by Neesley, Dragon and Keezer. Ode to Joe (which, by the way, is dedicated to the memory of another legendary drummer, the late

Joe Morello

drums
1928 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Morello) is a laudable session, one whose respectable grade would be higher were there more music to appraise.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Time Out; Bop This; Home; Ode to Joe; Ness Please; With Love.

Personnel

David Whitman

drums

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor

Rob Lockart

clarinet

Andrew Neesley

trumpet

Ryan Dragon

trombone

Geoffrey Keezer

keyboards

Bruce Forman

guitar

Chris Montgomery

guitar

Rob Thorsen

bass

Album information

Title: Ode To Joe | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Shifting Paradigm Records

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