Soulmates was pianist
Mike LeDonne's fourth album for the Dutch label Criss Cross, and it is likely one of his best. Granted,
LeDonne really couldn't go wrong with musicians like alto saxist
Jon Gordon, tenor saxophone giant
Joshua Redman, veteran drummer
Lewis Nash,
Ryan Kisor on trumpet, and
Peter Washington on bass, but here the veteran New York pianist has really outdone himself. If any jazz record released in the past decade could be compared to the classic quintet/quartet Blue Note albums of the 1950s (such as recorded by
Jimmy Smith and
Art Blakey) it's this one. Though
LeDonne did most of the arranging and wrote nearly all the songs on the album, his playing itself is one of its highlights. Listen to him weave through the second piece on the album, "Homage," ducking in and out of the changes, priming the rhythm section before rising to a simmering climax at the end of the chorus. Also standing out on this session is
Joshua Redman, who plays consistently brilliant solos that mix the modern technical acrobatics of
Michael Brecker with the bluesy sounds of
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Veteran alto player
Jon Gordon blows several burning solos as well, with especially spectacular playing on the opener, "Jessica's Birthday," and "Shaky Jake," a
Cedar Walton tune.
Ryan Kisor, best known for his stint with the
Mingus Big Band, plays excellent here also, sounding at times like
Freddie Hubbard, but more often than not playing with a highly original style. Drummer
Lewis Nash and bassist
Peter Washington keep rock solid time throughout the album, both embellishing and reacting to the soloist's ideas and playing off them. A great album for
Mike LeDonne all round, proving that he is among New York's top jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers. ~ Alex Arcone