Owned by
Cory Weeds, the Cellar Restaurant in Vancouver is considered one of the world's top jazz clubs. The success of
Weeds' club has led logically to his formation of the Cellar Live label. On February 2, 2006, the Cellar was host to a top-notch New York quartet. Altoist
Mike DiRubbo has a passionate sound and a hard-driving style that are often quite reminiscent of
Jackie McLean with touches of
John Coltrane. Veteran
Harold Mabern, who is in top form, clearly inspires
DiRubbo, while the bass-drums team of
Dwayne Burno and
Tony Reedus keeps the music stimulating and intense. Some of the song structures are in the idiom of
Coltrane and
McCoy Tyner, even the unlikely transformation of
Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman," while "Ray's Idea" adds a bit of bebop variety.
DiRubbo, who takes an effective soprano solo on "The Sage," finds his own voice in the
McLean style and plays with plenty of vitality and creativity. ~ Scott Yanow