John Daversa - Wobbly Dance Flower (2017) flac

Tracklist

01. Ms. Turkey
02. Donna Lee
03. Be Free
04. Brooklyn Still
05. Wobbly Dance Flower
06. Jazz Heads
07. Meet Me at the Airport
08. You Got a Puppy?!
09. Extra Credit

Following last year’s Kaleidoscope Eyes album, trumpeter John Daversa, known for his big band work—as leader, writer and featured soloist— throws a change-up. Wobbly Dance Flower is a small-band outing where he shares the front line with saxophonist Bob Mintzer. Add a ready-for-anything rhythm section headed by keyboardist Joe Bagg and this group has “festival attraction” written all over it. This outfit emphatically leaves the listener wanting more.

Daversa’s open horn on the bright “You Got A Puppy?!” is a model of articulation and control. Mintzer is a righteous partner, blowing febrile tenor on the flag-wavers and adding color and solo tang with the bass clarinet. The title track is a joyous island romp that can stand next to “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins, while Miles Davis’ venerable bebop proving ground, “Donna Lee,” is full of surprises.

The stylistic range of Daversa’s originals is impressive. “Ms. Turkey” burns like a Blue Note bopper. The bluesy “Brooklyn Still” shows two soulful soloists: the muted trumpet of “Jazz Heads” recalls Harry “Sweets” Edison’s sly, mocking epigrams; Joe Bagg’s splashy organ underpins a “Bitches Brew”-type excursion.

Daversa and Mintzer indulge in electronic instruments—the EVI and EWI, respectively—as does bassist Jerry Watts Jr. Presumably the intermittent nimble filigree under the ensemble is the U-bass. But except for the brief “Extra Credit” coda, it’s not always clear how the juiced-up models are appreciably different from the traditional models. That’s a small carp to an otherwise fine recording.

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