Guitarist Kyle Asche, a new name in jazz at the time of this recording, plays straight-ahead music in the vein of
Herb Ellis,
Barney Kessel, and
Wes Montgomery. Featured in a trio/quartet with organist Pete Benson, drummer Tony Howell, and (on four of the eight selections) tenor saxophonist
Scott Burns, Asche takes excellent modern mainstream solos. The quartet, despite the lack of name recognition, swings hard and with soul on the two standards and Asche's six basic originals. All of these young musicians display potential for the future and
The Hook Up is well worth exploring. ~ Scott Yanow