Oliver Gannon Quartet - That's What (2005)

A fine straight-ahead bop-based guitarist in the vein of Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and Ed Bickert, Oliver Gannon has a tasteful and swinging style. On this live set recorded at the Cellar Restaurant/Jazz Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, he and his regular quartet perform four standards and five originals. Although the playing is sometimes quite heated, Gannon's laid-back tone results in the music being a modern form of cool-toned jazz. Pianist Miles Black also has many fine solos along the way and the rhythm section is supportive and tight. The overall results should delight fans of straight-ahead jazz guitarists. ~ Scott Yanow