Ronnie Bedford Quartet - Just Friends (2014) FLAC

During the late '70s, drummer Ronnie Bedford was the rhythmic leader for the band led by Benny Carter. Bedford also graced recording sessions by numerous other jazz luminaries in the New York area. Bedford left the Big Apple in 1986 for the bucolic surroundings of Wyoming, where he teaches at Northwest College. Yet he still remains very active in the live performance and recording arenas, giving concerts, and often recording them, in that part of the country. Bedford has always been able to attract top-of-the-line jazz artists for these events and his latest album for Progressive is no exception. Joining him for this concert at Northwest College are sax player Tommy Newsom, stellar pianist Bill Charlap, and a colleague of Bedford's, bass player Peter Huffaker. Bedford's ability to manipulate the drum sticks during solos as well as be the driving force for the rest of the group is evident on every track, but no more so than on the title cut, "Just Friends," as well as on a modern take of "Lester Leaps In." Bedford demonstrates a similar ingenuity and inventiveness on the skins as he used in his two "creating music while you play" recording sessions with classical pianist Carol Lian. There are few around who can hold as intelligent and musical a conversation with the percussive instrument as Bedford. Newsom, once assistant leader for the Tonight Show Orchestra, shows his cool demeanor as the co-carrier of the melody line and extemporizations thereon with Bill Charlap, whether it be on a ballad, such as an impressionistic-shaped "Dream Dancing," or with the fast-moving bop classic of Charlie Parker, "Now's the Time." This album is an excellent small-group outing and is highly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan