A Special Alliance

During the late '70s when older styles of jazz came back into favor, a number of young players received the lion's share of the attention. But while the Marsalis brothers and other young guns were hogging the spotlight, a number of veteran players — who had never left classic jazz — continued to work quietly in the background. The upside of the revival, however, was that players like pianist John Bunch would find sympathetic audiences and record labels that appreciated their work. Bunch has served as a sideman for a number of greats including Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich, but he's also a capable leader. On A Special Alliance he's joined by bassist Dave Green and drummer Steve Brown for a wonderfully diverse set. It's easy to see Bunch's traditional roots on pieces like "Lush Life" and "My Ship," but this set also features compositions by John Coltrane ("Moment's Notice") and Bud Powell ("So Sorry Please"). One of the nice aspects of good trio work is the intimacy between the players, and that's true of these sessions. Bunch's lead lines on Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" glide lyrically over the melody while Brown's gentle brush work and Green's thick, full bass notes are forever present. A Special Alliance lives up to its promise and is packed with good tunes. Fans of traditional jazz, great piano work, and Bunch's previous albums will want to grab a copy. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi