Ray Marchica has lived a busy life as drummer.
He was on The Rosie O'Donnell
Show over its six-year
stay on television and sat in the drummer's chair
for a host of productions on Broadway. He was also
in Woody Allen's Radio Days. Good going
certainly, there's nothing like keeping the pulse
ticking in more ways than one. In the midst of
all this, he found time to record two albums, the
first being
A Different View.
In the current blend of standards and originals,
the former come off stronger. The group saves the
best for last, or just one short of it. “I
Can't Get Started” is a warm ballad that
gets its soul from Teodross
Avery, whose tenor saxophone lingers and breathes
emotion into every note. The mood is enhanced
by Marchica's empathic brush work and gently shimmering
cymbals. Guitarist
Rodney Jones, who has a way of interspersing chunky
chords with notes that speak directly to the listener,
adds another shade of beckoning. ”Summertime” is
pumped up, the adrenalin surging. There's nothing
like adding some effervescence to the heat as Jones
loosens up with swinging notes and Avery adds some
buoyancy to the proceedings, even as he reins in
the line to make it a shade tauter.
Marchica pays tribute to Elvin Jones and Philly
Joe Jones on “The Joneses.” This hard-edged
and intense tune is spearheaded by Avery, who cuts
a deep furrow with a quick honk or two, tossing
in strangulated squiggles for added measure. All
the while the bottom is a surging, swelling rumble
churned by Marchica and bassist Lonnie Plaxico.
When it comes to “Journey's End,” much
of the middle is loosely wrapped over the theme
before the overwhelming part comes, with bass,
drums, and sax spinning dizzyingly to the climax.
Despite this, the overall listen is pleasing enough,
with several enjoyable moments.
— Jerry D'Souza
June 30, 2005
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