Reviews
Downbeat Magazine
by Michael Jackson | September Issue, 2006
*** 3-Stars — Bob Reynolds is ripe for assassination by the old guard as indicative of the latest breed of Berklee whiz kid, confident on his horn with sure knowledge of contemporary compositional conceits. Michael Brecker and Joshua Redman have endorsed Reynolds and the resemblance to Redman is particularly obvious, notably on the final two cuts — the bluesy, upwardly mobile drive and bruisy tone.
Reynolds' tunes frame his blowing while giving the band its guidelines. "Common Ground" begins with a unison line with guitarist Mike Moreno nudged on by Eric Harland's choppy stick work; pianist Aaron Goldberg uncorks a sparkling two-handed solo, full of nice ideas. The vamp ending gives Harland a chance to splash about.
The CD title is ironic, since the execution is largely faultless, indicating Reynolds' perfectionist streak yolked to impatient energy. Bassist Reuben Rogers opens the title track, and offers a Charles Mingus-like thrust. "Nine Lives" balances groove elements, and this cut, along with several others, could compete in the realm of commercial jazz radio.
