Jazz / Post-Bop
Rick Culver is a trombonist with a warm tone, a melodic style, and an openness to modern styles of jazz while being grounded in straight-ahead hard bop. On this set he is joined by pianist Jeff Kressler and bassist Nick Calandro. The drumless trio performs six standards and eight Culver originals that almost sound like they could have been standards themselves if they had received a lot of exposure. Few surprise occur for Culver and his sidemen do not stretch the music much beyond hard bop and Bill Evans-style 1960s jazz, but they play quite well within the boundaries they have chosen, with "Late Life Rag" offering a slight departure. Fans of swinging trombonists will enjoy this music.
--- Scott Yanow, allmusic
Rick Culver - Trombone, Arranger
Jeff Kresser - Piano |
