March 2008

Dave Allen
Real and Imagined
Fresh Sound New Talent

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

With a bright, crisply articulated guitar tone and a slippery attack, Dave Allen takes an exceptional quartet on a spin through nine original tunes, showcasing both his own subtle compositional style and the seamless interplay of his band. Saxophonist Seamus Blake projects a smoothly undulating linearity against Allen’s more circular solo approach, while bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber provide gentle yet irresistible force. Melodious and buoyant throughout, this set is easily approached but yields a rich listening experience.