Steve LaSpina - The road ahead (1997)

Tracklist

01. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
02. Body And Soul
03. Sweet Dreams
04. No Way
05. Coming Home To You
06. Falling Grace
07. A Place I've Not Forgotten
08. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
09. The Road Ahead


Bassist Steve LaSpina's quintet performs five of his originals, Steve Swallow's "Falling Grace," and three veteran standards on his well-rounded CD Road Ahead. "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" is reharmonized and given tricky time signatures that make it sound like a completely different song while "Body and Soul" is comparatively straightforward. LaSpina's own tunes are challenging and quite original, inspiring the soloists, particularly guitarist Vic Juris and saxophonist Billy Drewes. "Coming Home to You" (which has a fine bass solo) is particularly charming and could catch on as a future standard if properly exposed. Of some of the other songs, this is one of the better versions of "Falling Grace," building quite effectively, "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" (taken as a guitar-bass duo) is a light-hearted change of pace, and Drewes contributes some nice soprano to "The Road Ahead." LaSpina is a major soloist on nearly every song and this set is one of his better showcases, as both a bassist and a composer.

Steve LaSpina - Bass
Vic Juris - Guitar
Billy Drewes - Saxophone
Jim McNeely- Piano
Jeff Hirshfield - Drums

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