September 1997

Mike Boone
Old Head
Encounter

By Sunsh Stein

Bassist Mike Boone starts this release with a hip vocal duet of "I've Got Rhythm" that highlights his pizzicato dexterity. He ends it with two originals displaying varied compositional and arranging styles. One is a piano/bass duet that's slightly discordant and edgy, the other, "Rest In Peace," is rendered quietly by a sextet. In between he offers nice arrangements of standards including an unusual intro to "Stella by Starlight."