This is an intriguing effort from bassist
Kyle Eastwood, the son of actor
Clint Eastwood. A wide variety of personnel and instrumentation are utilized, with
Vince Mendoza arranging the selections with the larger groups. The music ranges from swinging jazz ("Stanley Hill Dr" and "Watch, Watch") to a brooding ballad showcase for soprano saxophonist
Steve Tavagione (who sounds like
Wayne Shorter on "Solace"), three throwaway vocal numbers (including a forgettable
Joni Mitchell on
Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man"), and a few features for
Doug Webb on tenor and soprano.
Eastwood is an excellent player and has some short solos along the way, although he is happy to play a supportive role much of the time. This set may be a bit over-produced, but
Kyle Eastwood shows strong potential for the future. ~ Scott Yanow