On this album we find Charlie Rouse in a different setting music-wise than I’ve heard him in before. This is a wonderful mix of funk and post-bop with some excellent playing by the leader. I’ve been exposed to the incorporation of funk when exploring 70’s jazz and I’ve really been enjoying it. Love that mix, when the funkier elements are blended with the post-bop/modal stuff during the same tune and between separate tunes focusing on one style or the other.
On this date we have an interesting group, with Rouse on tenor and bass clarinet, George Davis and Paul Metzke on guitar, Calo Scott on cello, Stanley Clark and Martin Rivera on bass, David Lee on drums, Airto Moreira on percussion and Azzedin Weston on conga. There’s a lovely chemistry between the players.
Favorite picks are the Joe Chambers penned ”Hopscotch” and the brilliant, dark and moody ”In His Presence Searching”, written by David Lee.
Strata-East truly was a great label, with all of it’s different musical flavours to emerge yourself in. This Rouse album is one of the best I’ve heard so far, so I’m happy to file this quite elusive title.