Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

Guitarist Frank Potenza has been on the jazz scene for some time, getting a great deal of exposure as a member of the final edition of pianist Gene Harris' last quartet. Since then he has recorded a number of rewarding CDs as a leader, including this session with organist Joe Bagg, flautist Holly Hofmann (a guest on several selections), and drummer Steve Barnes, which ranges from standards to jazz compositions and pop songs. There's Jimmy Smith's "Ready and Able" (one of countless tunes based on "I Got Rhythm" changes), and Hofmann's husband, Mike Wofford, arranged the playful setting of Lee Morgan's blues "Party Time," featuring guitar and flute in unison as well as individually. The standard "A Weaver of Dreams" is a magical, sublime duet for guitar and alto flute, followed immediately by a snappy 5/4 arrangement of "Star Eyes." Potenza's subtle boogaloo groove provides a fresh look at Bobbie Gentry's '60s hit "Ode to Billy Joe," while he adds a friendly, low-key vocal to Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'," and incorporates the familiar song "Walkin'" into the introduction. The guitarist contributed one original, "Jacaranda," an infectious samba. ~ Ken Dryden