March 2008

Gregg August Sextet
One Peace
IACUESSA

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

Gregg August’s sophomore release grabs you by the collar, gets directly in your face and growls, Listen. Loaded with streetwise postbop tunes, the disc rides in on the leader’s low, suspenseful bass riffs and a rock-solid band with as much forward momentum—and as many quick turns—as a roller coaster. There are plenty of persuasive solos, too, with John Bailey’s gritty trumpet, Myron Walden’s odd sax angles and E.J. Strickland’s drum bashing sitting particularly well opposite Gregg’s chewy, elastic sound. This is a winner.