We Got This

フィラデルフィアのトリオ、PIECES OF A DREAMがNEWアルバムをリリース!

GROVER WASINGTON,Jr.に見いだされて以来、数々のヒットを飛ばしてきたフィラデルフィアのスムース・ジャズ/R&Bトリオ、PIECES OF A DREAMが最新作をリリース!
ベテランならではのメロディック・グルーヴ満載の1枚です。

Philadelphias Pieces of a Dream hold a unique place in contemporary jazz. Co-founded in 1976 by high school classmates Curtis Harmon (drums), James Lloyd (keyboards), and Cedric Napoleon (bass), they chose their name after Stanley Turrentines reading of Michel LeGrands "Pieces of Dreams." The band was discovered by saxophonist and fellow Philadelphian Grover Washington, Jr., who signed them to Elektra. He produced and played on their eponymous debut album. It charted at Jazz and R&B and made the Top 200. Since then, 18 more of their albums have placed on various charts. They have been an international touring sensation since 1982. While Napoleon left the trio in 1990, he remained close to his former bandmates. Saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Tony Watson, Jr. has been a member since 2008. We Got This is POADs first outing since 2021. Its ten tracks feature production by both founders and its an album drenched in pure joy. Opener "Heading Out" is performed by Lloyd and Watson (Lloyd and Harmon play together live, but work separately in the studio) using hand percussion, wafting synth, gritty sax, drums, and keyboard bass. It immediately offers sensory impressions of traveling the open road and sunny horizons. The key bass introducing the title track is dirty, funky, and matches the break patterns of Harmons kit to underscore an irresistible melody with tasty guitar breaks from Chris Harris and Donald "Pop" Bolding. "Be There for You" is a set highlight and the albums hinge piece. Its introduced by Watson over a guitar, sparkling keys (guest Chris "Big Dog" Davis), and a pulsing bassline that all groove in a driven, breezy melody framing a vocal chorus made up of Watson, Carolyn Brewer, and Stacey Richardson. "Pieces of You" is a smooth, soulful jazz ballad by bassist John C. Hall. He appears alongside Harmon, Watson, and Bolding. The interplay between the saxophonist and bassist is exceptionally lovely. Theres a hint of South African township jazz in "All About Us," composed by Harmon; its a lithe, slippery, danceable jazz-funk tune with gorgeous production. He and Watson get instrumental assistance from Davis, Bolding, and pianist George Granville III. "Cloud 9" (not the Temptations song) is a bubbler that weds Caribbean and contemporary jazz rhythms under a bumping Harris guitar line. "Skyway Bridge" is a dramatic midtempo ballad with interweaving saxophones, guitars, and a lyric line that comes right out of Caribbean jazz. In one sense, its all Watson. He wrote and produced it and handled the programming, keys, and sax. Hes supported by percussionist Elec Simon and Harmons kit. Its all motion and flow with some seriously amped-up group breakdowns near the end. Closer "Moving and Grooving" sounds exactly like its title. Its a celebratory jam by Lloyd and Watson that comes across as a sophisticated, soulful party anthem with a killer solo by the pianist. After half-a-decade together, POAD are still relevant. We Got This offers sounds and compositions that sound hungry, motivated, and utterly current. ~ Thom Jurek