Benito Gonzalez says that putting together his second album wasn’t really a challenge. He didn’t really have to think about where he wanted to go with it. Instead, he was just out to have a fun time with the talented group of musicians he gathered to record with him. It was this same approach he took to the Jazz Standard venue on Tuesday night to celebrate his new release Circles, and to test how well the albums sound would gel.
The mostly packed night drew out a mixed crowd of both young and old people, a refreshing sight and a sign of the appeal the pianist Benito has in the Jazz world already. His band reflected this also, as he surrounded himself with vets of different eras like alto saxophonist Azar Lawrence, tenor saxophonist Myron Waldon, bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts. Since everyone except for Nat played on the album, there was great potential for telepathic playing to emerge between the players.
The influence of McCoy Tyner on the young star, as well as the classic John Coltrane quartet Tyner played in, was not something Benito was afraid to hide and explored both of these influences during the night. Using the Tyner composition “Blues On The Corner,” Benito’s group achieved a near similar effect of working in synchronization to explore the territory forged several decades ago. Here Azar took advantage of his years playing with Tyner to shift between rapid sheet attacks that reached into the upper register of his sax to guiding the group into the more catchy verse territory.
When the quintet would change the pace with challenging numbers such “Taurus,” written by Benito, it showed how the group could deliver quick but potent solos when under the time gun. But it was Jeff who stole the show with a moment where he used his loud, crackling playing style to finish out the song and ended it on an abrupt note. This unexpected turn played out quite well in the skilled drummer’s hands and was rewarding with its explosive execution.
Perhaps the song that found the quintet at its most creative was another original number by Benito, “Lets Talk About You and Me.” This ballad was the most unique in song structure and usage of his band. It reflects the composer’s feeling about his life as a traveler and his come and go friendships. Playing off of a Latin rhythm, the song at one point found Benito engaged in a passionate solo that utilized his two saxophonists playing a couple of long notes per bar to a unique harmonic effect. It was this kind of inventiveness that drew the loudest cheers of the night and found the band working together at its best.
The mostly post-bop outing was certainly an enjoyable one for both the audience and the musicians that night. The time spent sinking into both classic and new numbers grounded in the tradition of 60s jazz found common but difficult ground for every member to stretch out their talent on. It turned out to be a winning detour for Benito as he gained new fans who eagerly waited for him after his set was over.
Words by Putnam Doug
