The follow-up both to 2002's
Wood and 2005's thematically opposite
Metal,
Wood II puts jazz bassist
Brian Bromberg in an acoustic small-combo format supported by a drummer and pianist.
Bromberg's full, rounded tone is at the center of all of these 12 songs; on some, like his cover of
Earth, Wind & Fire's funk hit "Shining Star," he uses his trademark tapping technique to play two simultaneous lines. This low-end focus makes
Wood II a delight for standup bass fanatics. ~ Stewart Mason