Ronnie Bedford and Friends - QuaDRUMvirate (2014)

Ronnie Bedford has been organizing tours for several years, recording and then issuing them as CDs. This latest is from a concert in one of Bedford's favorite performing venues, Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. Given the drummer's status in jazz, he never has a problem attracting top jazz "friends" to join his quadrumvirate which is defined as an association of four men, lead by a drummer of course. This time Steve Wiest is on trombone, Derek Smith on piano and Eric Thorin on bass. Wiest has graced trombone sections of bands led byMaynard Ferguson andFrank Mantooth. He comports himself well on a mellow, lyrical rendition of "Stardust." English pianist Derek Smith, in addition to recording with his own trio, has worked with Louis Bellson and the wonderful Norwegian singer, Laila Dalseth, among others. The major showcase for his talents is an energetic, finger dazzling "Jitterbug Waltz," which stopped the show. There is engaging back and forth with bassist Thorin on this track. "Out of Nowhere" is the vehicle for let us all get into the performing act. Wiest kicks off, a bit unsure, but once into the groove, he swings. Smith does way above the melody line improvising, while Thorin gets in major pizzicato licks on bass. All the time, as he does throughout the session, the leader does a masterful job with his understated but persuasive drum sticks. His drum solos are more intelligent than explosive. Hearing a live session these days is a pleasure when so much of what is produced is homogenized through a series of high tech electronic filters, so that any resemblance to what was actually played in the studio and what the listener actually gets may be coincidental rather than original. What you hear here is what they played. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan