Night and Day by Doug Talley Quartet

04 Jul

Written by Mark E. Gallo
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Tenor and soprano saxophonist Doug Talley and his able quartet of pianist Wayne Hawkins, bassist Tim Brewer and drummer/vibist Keith Kavanaugh are doubtlessly a popular attraction in their Kansas City hometown. The bop quartet is flawless in this Cole Porter exclusive program. Talley has absorbed the post bop traditions of Coltrane and Rollins, added the warmth of Dexter Gordon and the flourishes of Stan Getz, and developed his own harmonic and wonderfully melodic approach. On the opener, 'I Love You,' Talley is perhaps unavoidably cast in the Coltrane mold. Throughout the remainder of the disc, influences are less concrete. His soprano work on ''I Concentrate on You'' is superb without nodding in any particular influential direction.

The title cut has a bit of the restrained swing of Sonny Rollins, though this is unquestionable a quartet of first-rate world-class musicians working out of their own impressive bag of tricks. The guest spot from Karrin Allyson on 'So in Love' is impressive, though this is clearly not a vocalist's band. There are some truly sublime moments here that rate a high a recommendation. Information at 7807 Caenen Lake, Lenexa, KS 66216.