Although trumpeter
Brad Goode has made his home in Colorado in recent years, he was born in Chicago and led the house band at The Green Mill for several years, so returning to the city to record
Hypnotic Suggestion (held on February 6, 2005) makes perfect sense. Supported by Adrean Farrugia on piano,
Kelly Sill on bass, and
Dana Hall on drums,
Goode brings a calm, clear, and confident trumpet tone to this set of four originals and five standards, all done with a bop sensibility but also showing
Goode's classically trained understanding of time and space. His horn lines never overstay, giving them a rare dignity and elegance, and the opener, a
Goode original called "Hypnotic Suggestion," exhibits an unhurried grace that belies the short session slot (only two-and-a-half hours) the quartet had at their disposal. The version here of
Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing" strips it of some of its ragged urgency, while the rendition of
Dizzy Gillespie's "Beautiful Love" adds in a certain detached sadness, but both tracks fit well within the whole of the session. The closer, a madcap take on "Crazy Rhythm" where
Goode stacks up a series of rapid, almost comic notes (reportedly he used the top from a juice jug as a mute), is one of the highlights on an impressive and balanced outing. ~ Steve Leggett