Trumpeter and jazz educator
Brad Goode offers a diverse program in
Tight Like This. Joined by pianist Adrean Farrugia, bassist Kelly Sill, and drummer Anthony Lee,
Goode delivers a fresh take of the old chestnut from the 1920s made famous by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five (in which Farrugia works in "Eleanor Rigby" and "Hot House," among other songs, into his improvisation), incorporating both old and new styles in his arrangement. The trumpeter's complex post-bop reworking of Walter Donaldson's "Changes" takes it far from the expected path, while
Goode's playful muted horn is a highlight of the laid-back, funky treatment of "Reverse the Charges," which is also highlighted by Sill's tasty bass solo. "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" has long been a favorite of jazz musicians, but Farrugia's unusual accompaniment gives it a new dimension.
Goode also penned several strong originals, highlighted by the moody ballad "Midwestern Autumn" (featuring his moving muted trumpet) and his hip "Bob's Bounce," in which he soars over the solid groove of his rhythm section. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden