12/09/09

Tom Brantley
Boneyard
Summit

By Bill Milkowski

Trombonist Brantley shifts nimbly from an organ-fueled shuffle-blues version of Duke’s “In A Mellow Tone” to Saint-Saens’ classical “Adagio” delivered as a jazz ballad to a wacky rendition of Bird’s “Confirmation” done as a second line groover. A Carl Fontana influence is apparent on his stunning duet with guitarist LaRue Nickelson on “Stardust.” He also engages Keith Oshiro in a spirited two-trombone romp through Randy Weston’s “Hi Fly.” Jerald Shynett offers some fine contrapuntal writing for five trombones on his lyrical “Exemption.”