The
Nuttree Quartet gets its name from the translation of drummer
Adam Nussbaum's surname from German to English; joining him for this post-bop session are guitarist
John Abercrombie, organist
Gary Versace, and tenor saxophonist
Jerry Bergonzi. Their set list draws from standards and time-tested jazz compositions that have been recorded numerous times, yet each interpretation comes across fresh.
Versace's soft bossa nova arrangement of
Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" showcases
Bergozni's soulful tenor. Another twist is the unaccompanied percussion introduction to
Wayne Shorter's "Footprints," with
Abercrombie and
Versace slowly building steam.
Abercrombie is the featured artist in the trio setting of John Carisi's intricate "Israel." Closing the session is a brief, moving performance of
John Coltrane's "Naima." Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden