An Atlanta native and recent New York City transplant, 25-year-old bassist Michael Feinberg explores the relationship that Elvin Jones had with various bass players throughout his illustrious career, including Jimmy Garrison, Gene Perla, George Mraz and Dave Holland. Filling in for the late, great drummer on this exceptional outing is Billy Hart, a close friend and colleague of Jones’. The program ranges from the spacey “Earth Jones,” colored by Leo Genovese’s dreamy Fender Rhodes work and featuring a bristling trumpet solo from Tim Hagans; to a hard-swinging take on John Coltrane’s “Miles’ Mode,” touting some heroic blowing from tenor sax titan George Garzone; to a sublime version of “Nancy (With the Laughing Face)” on which Feinberg handles the haunting melody with superb arco work. There’s also an interpretation of Steve Grossman’s dynamic “Taurus People,” along with takes on Frank Foster’s funky “The Unknighted Nations” and Jones’ signature tune, the raucous “Three Card Molly.” Feinberg’s third as a leader is his finest to date.
Originally PublishedThe Elvin Jones Project: Michael Feinberg
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