Guitarist Matt Swenson, pianist/keyboardist Bryan Lewis, bassist Philip Booth and drummer Tim Diehl have been performing together as Acme Jazz Garage for the past five years, and finally released an eponymous debut last month.
Recorded at the historic Springs Theatre Studio in Tampa, Acme Jazz Garage finds the instrumental quartet branching out from their genre roots and joined by a roster of special guests that include conga master Gumbi Ortiz, jazz singer Whitney James and NYC-based sax master Jeremy Powell, among others.
You’ll still find more traditional sounds in the breezy brassy “Sandprints,” the vibes-accompanied “Zag” and smoldering late night lounge ode “Last Call,” which features Ms. James delivering a jazzy-rich lead vocal. But songs like set opener “Mongo Strut” are straight-up funk with heavy bass and keyboard grooves, wah-wah guitar and percussive-thumped rhythms, while “Mr. G.P.” turns up the New Orleans R&B vibes, “Resonance” feels like ‘70s-vintage jazz-prog fusion with Latin appeal, a cover of “America the Beautiful” becomes a loose blues-hued reflection and set closer “Mongo Jam” returns to the theme of the opening track with heavier emphasis on congas and spice. All together, the 10-track set is not only fun but a rather excellent demonstration of what four vet musicians can accomplish with some quality time in the studio and a little help from their friends.
Critics' Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars.
Acme Jazz Garage plays 7-10 p.m. every Thursday and Friday at Timpano in Hyde Park, and also performs 7-11 p.m. this Sat., May 7, at The Independent Bar & Café in Seminole Heights. Admission to both performances is free. Purchase a copy of the album online HERE.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2016.
